Page 14 of Sold to the Silver Foxes

Dante shifts, looking uneasy. He gives me a sidelong glance that confirms he didn’t realize Gabriel was in bed with the Dumases.Sal just inclines his head in acknowledgment. Without further preamble, the three of us start to skim the contract, page by page.

It’s loaded with legal jargon. Funny that they’d go through all this trouble for a legally unenforceable contract. But the formality is there to remind us not of the law, but of the power of the Dumas family. If we were to break it, we’d never see the inside of a courtroom. The inside of a dumpster or the bottom of the harbor, maybe.

The most important stipulation is that if she’s harmed in any way—physically, emotionally, psychologically—Pietro and his associates can take retribution, including seizing assets.

I fold my arms, forcing myself to remain calm. We pride ourselves on keeping our tastes discreet, especially in the realm of kink. But letting the Dumas family hold the fate of Moretti Brands in their hands? That leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

But backing out isn’t an option. This contract is a type of formality, and we all know it. Pietro’s family is an unspoken threat. More importantly, I can’t deny that I want to see this through with the redhead, consequences be damned.

Pietro must sense our discomfort, because he offers a polished smile. “You won’t have to worry about any of those clauses, provided you treat your new companion with respect and care.”

A knock on the door disrupts the tension. Another attendant peeks in, stepping aside to revealher—the redhead—wearing a white satin negligee that clings to her every curve. The overhead lamp casts a soft glow on the fabric, revealing tantalizing outlines. Not as much as the spotlights did, but it doesn’t matter to my libido.

My breath catches in my throat.

She’s more stunning up close, with big, anxious green eyes and slightly flushed cheeks. The swirl of pink at her collarbone suggests she’s overheated or maybe just nervous. Possibly both.

I can’t help the flicker of heat that surges in my chest, a potent wave of desire I haven’t felt in ages. Normally, I weigh my attractions carefully, consider the ramifications. But right now, my mind is a blur, fixating on her parted lips and the gentle curve of her hips.

Ridiculous, I chide myself.Focus.

Pietro stands, smoothing his suit jacket. “Ah, Tabitha. Please, come in. These are the men who placed the winning bid.” He gestures toward us.

She must notice the tension in the room because she hesitates for a fraction of a second. Then, taking a breath, she walks in with more grace than I’d expect from someone so obviously on edge. Even with the mask covering half my face, I feel like she can see right through me. Nerves coil in my gut.

“Tabitha,” Pietro continues, “we’ve gone over the main points of your contract. I trust you remember them from your initial sign-up?”

She nods, voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, sir.”

He offers an indulgent smile. “No need to call me sir. We’re all friends here. I expect these gentlemen to be perfect hosts.”

“Of course,” Tabitha says, her gaze darting to me. She lingers a beat before sliding her eyes to Dante, then Sal. I watch her swallow hard, but she doesn’t bolt.

Pietro returns his attention to us. “Now is the time for final signatures. You’ll sign in her presence, she’ll sign, and then I’ll take you upstairs to one of our suites for the first night.” His tone is polite, but no part of what he said is up for debate.

Sal steps forward first, picking up a sleek fountain pen from the desk. He skims the final page, flips to where it indicates the three of us must sign. The pen is offered to me last. I feel Tabitha’s eyes on me the entire time. My chest is tight, but a kind of excitement swells in me as well. This is insane, but it’s also exhilarating.

At this point, there’s no real choice in the matter. I want her. I sign and place the pen down, meeting Tabitha’s gaze for the first time without flinching. She is stunning, truly. Pietro extends the pen to her, and for a beat, she hesitates. But then she takes the pen and carefully inscribes her name on the page.

Tabitha Calloway. Our partner in this crime.

8

SALVATORE

We followPietro into the elevator, and he taps a silver key card against a sleek panel on the control board. A hidden button illuminates, and the elevator hums upward toward the top floor. Whatever this building is, historical or modern made to look historical, I can’t tell. But this elevator is as modern as the one in our office building, which makes me wonder just how much security they really have here.

Are we being watched in every room, or just the public areas? Time will tell.

Tabitha is clinging to one corner of the elevator like it might swallow her whole, shoulders tense under the thin straps of her slip. She’s beautiful in that understated way that calls to me. Must be why I bid my brothers into a frenzy.

What the hell were we thinking?

Dante glances at Tabitha with a slight grin. Meanwhile, Nico is stone-faced beside me, arms folded, and I can practically feel the tension rolling off him in waves. If there’s a single word to describe the atmosphere, it’santicipation.

Pietro clears his throat to steal our attention. “The suite has three attached bedrooms, a main sitting area, and all the…accessories you might need to become acquainted this evening. Assuming all goes well, you can leave my property with Tabitha to fulfill the month-long contract.”

…you can…my property…

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