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“No. I’m not fucking jealous,” I snap back. “I’m just saying she has someone waiting for me to fuck up.”

Needing to wrap up my plan, I turn to face Shaw, who stares intensively at me. “Can I borrow her or not?” I ask. We’ve wasted enough of my time already this morning.

Shaw sits back in his chair and narrows his eyes at me. “If you agree to do something for me, then I agree to let you borrowEleanor.”

I steeple my hands on the desk and sit forward in my chair.

“Go on…”

“Emi’s asked me to go to a charity event organized by Luca.” He curls his lip at the mention of his brother-in-law’s name. Luca Varros is a Mafia capo who Shaw refers to as a controlling, ball-busting bastard. My poor friend has to jump through hoops to please him and barely has any control over his own life. When he accidentally knocked his now-wife Emi up during a one-night stand, he was forced into an arranged marriage by her brother. Good thing for him, he was smitten with Emi from the beginning. I nod along, and he continues to explain. “The last thing I want to do is go to a charity event organized by that demanding fucker. I’d rather pour bleach in the slit of my cock. So…” He smiles broadly. “You can borrow Eleanor and play the doting uncle for the day.”

“Afternoon,” I state, just so he knows I don’t need the kid for the day.

He wafts his hand in my direction as if that piece of information wasn’t important, despite it being vital to my plans. “In return, you attend the event as Emi’s plus one.” His smile somehow becomes bigger than before.

The other guys chuckle at Shaw’s proposal, and I lean back to contemplate his suggestion. It will be like another work event. I can handle it, no problem. The kid, on the other hand, I’m not so sure, but I’ll give it a go. Worst-case scenario, I’m never allowed to borrow her again. I tip my head from side to side; it’s actually not a bad scenario.

“What will the excuse be for you not attending with Emi?” Mase questions.

Shaw balks. “She will just be grateful I don’t put myself in a position to be shot by her brother again. We can tell him I’m sick and Reed offered to support her. He’ll lap that shit up. Shows we’re a team and all that.”

Owen chuckles to himself and shakes his head as if the whole thing is ridiculous when, in reality, it’s pretty genius.

“Deal.” I smile back, mirroring Shaw’s happiness.

Everything is coming together perfectly, and with that in mind, I push aside the concern in Owen’s eyes as he stares at me, not prepared to deal with the shitstorm brewing in the name of George Fanzio.

Now all I need is a dog.

CHAPTERNINETEEN

REED

I can’t believeI’m doing this. An actual building specifically for dogs. I’m outside a dog pound, and my heart feels like it’s about to explode out of my chest.

My phone beeps, so I glance down at the screen.

Shaw: Did you get one yet?

Tate: He had two last month. I don’t know what happened to them.

What the fuck is he talking about?

Tate: Pretty sure I heard them howling in his office.

I smirk at his message.

Last month, is that all it was? The truth is, since seeing Gia again, I’ve not given any other woman another thought until now, and the thought of the two women Tate is referring to makes me shudder. I sure as hell never fucked them, despite their many advances. I haven’t slept with anyone since the first night with Gia; that’s how much she has me wrapped up in her.

My pulse races, and howling noises filter through the closed door. I can only hope that bulldogs don’t howl, leave a mess, or make much noise in general. Hopefully, they simply sleep. A lot.

Owen: Go inside and get the fucking dog, Reed.

I scan the parking lot for cameras. The fucker has probably hacked the surrounding security system to witness my meltdown.

After tugging my tie from around my neck, I stuff it into my jacket pocket and open my top button. Then I lift my middle finger into the air and spin on the balls of my feet, hoping whatever camera he’s watching from picks up the action.

I must look like a lunatic to the outside world, but who gives a fuck. Right now, I feel like one.