Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Love is a criminal notion. Everyone seeks it, pines for it, then wallows when they lose it. All of which alters their fucking brain cells because they don’t think critically.
“You’re too young to love. Focus on your studies and—”
“I’m not a kid anymore, Dutton!” she says, exasperated. “Your overprotective nature will literally drive any woman to insanity.”
Ford is looking at his phone as he casually hands his glass to Hope, who takes a sip.
I sigh. Is my sister intentionally trying to humiliate herself in front of this group?
“I keep women safe. It’s what I do.” It’s what my father taught me to do. “So, no, I won’t apologize for deterring the wrong type of men from getting close to you.”
“What, are you a matchmaker now?” Billie hisses. “And who will be good enough for me, Dutton?”
I stare at her, taking a sip from my whiskey. It’s the same look I give her whenever I’m done with a conversation.
She throws her hands in the air and screams, “Well, thank fuck you’re leaving the country for two weeks! Who knows how many cocks I might get in my holes while you’re gone!”
My grip tightens on the glass as she swipes the bottle from the table and flicks her honey-colored hair over her shoulder. “Come on, Hope. Fuck these guys. Let’s go pick up Ivy and have our own fun.”
“Wait, don’t take the bottle!” Hawke yells at her back. Hope hands Ford the glass, and he watches them silently as they leave. Billie slams the door shut.
“You’re going to break that,” Ford says, and that’s when I realize how tightly I’m holding the glass.
My teeth grind. I’ll be gone for two weeks, opening another gentlemen’s club in Italy. I’m flying over there to keep the grandparents at bay. Something Eli hasn’t done for two years now, which I always hear about. Which is exactly why I’m the favorite grandchild. Surprising, considering I still don’t know if my grandfather, even in his old age, likes my dad. But over the last two years, I’ve been going every six months, at the very least, as I expand our businesses.
“How much will it cost for me to have one of you trail my sister for two weeks?” I ask the twins.
Hawke chuckles. “You know we work for Eli, not you. And I have a feeling Eli might agree with her on this one. You have to give her some breathing room.”
I glare at him, and he holds his hands up in defense.
Nothing great ever comes from love, and I wish my sister wasn’t so sucked into the notion of it. I have loving parents in a successful marriage. I see its advantages, but I also know the level of dependency it creates, and I could never imagine myself being so invested in another’s wants and desires above my own.
It either makes me a profit or protects my family.
That’s all I need.
CHAPTER 7
Posie
Dutton hasn’t been at the club for the last two weeks, which I’m thankful for. But to say I haven’t been looking for him would be a lie. Because I’m certain he’s going to try and ruin my fucking night.
When I think of the boss of a gentlemen’s club, I think of an old, rich man who is a sleaze. But Dutton is definitely not that. Assuredly, he’s an undeniable asshole, but I’ve realized he barely interacts with any of the other dancers. The dancers, however, gossip behind his back as to how they all wish they were fucking him. If only they understood what they were asking for. Yes, the man’s beautiful, in the same way an ice sculpture is. He looks like he’s been built by God’s divine hand, but his personality could freeze over the Sahara Desert.
That’s most likely why I can’t bite my tongue around him. I’m positive that this man is used to everyone obeying him and throwing themselves at him, and I just can’t do it. I promised myself I’d never do that for a man again. I wonder if that’s why he’s so hard on me because he’s not used to someone telling him no.
Tonight, the club is closed to guests but open for the staff to celebrate three years of being open. Dutton supposedly puts on a celebration every year and hires caterers. In those three years, he’s allegedly also opened another eight gentlemen’s clubs internationally. And I heard that’s why he’s been gone the past two weeks; he’s in Italy to open another one. That’s what one of the girls said, but they gossip about everything, so who knows if that’s fact or if he’s off conducting other lucrative business. Or maybe he’s on a pleasure trip because, for sure, that man is up to no good in his spare time.
I only agreed to join the party for a few hours tonight because, apparently, he’s never attended the celebration, and there are prizes to be won. One of the girls bragged about winning a twenty-carat diamond bracelet last year, so it’s fair to say I’m intrigued. Again, rumors are a wild thing here.