Page 6 of Sold to the Silver Foxes

Sal’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t contradict Dante’s summary. That alone is surprising. Typically, Sal would be the first to shut down anything that might cause a scandal, especially where the Moretti name is concerned. Instead, Sal stands there, arms crossed, giving me a look that says,Let’s see how you handle this.

Great. I get to be the grown-up in the room. Just what I always wanted.

I try to keep my composure. “Dante, do you realize how insane this sounds? I have a mountain of tasks to finish before we close the offices for the holidays. If I leave now, the entire finance department might riot.”

“This is exactly why you need to get away. You’re letting the job consume you. If you don’t come up for air soon, you’ll drown.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” I shoot back. “You flit around the globe and never face the day-to-day grind. Some of us actually have to keep the business running.”

Dante lifts one shoulder in a carefree shrug. “And that’s exactly why you should take a weekend for yourself. The business will survive. It’s been around for over a hundred years. You think one weekend without you, and it’ll crumble? What do you think the business did before you were born? You gotta unwind.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Is sleeping with a virgin who’s up for auction your idea of unwinding?”

Dante’s mouth quirks. “Oh, come on. We’re all into kink. This is just a new spin on things. We can bid or not bid, watch orparticipate—no one’s forcing you to do anything. Come up for air, Nico. Live a little.” He adds, “And, because I’m a generous brother, I paid the VIP entrance for all of us. So we have every option available to us. Besides, I miss my brothers. We haven’t done any real bonding in months.”

I glance at Sal, searching for backup. He’s no stranger to our more hedonistic hobbies behind closed doors, but there’s no way he’s on board with this. “Tell me you’re going to tell him to scrap this insane plan so we can focus on year-end business.”

Sal’s dark eyes lock on mine. For a moment, I expect him to say it. But instead, his jaw shifts, and he grumbles, “We’re going.”

My eyes widen. “Excuse me?”

“I said, we’re going,” Sal repeats. Then he pushes off the doorframe, crossing into my office with slow, deliberate steps.

I stare at both of them, dumbfounded. “But you—both of you—know how dangerous a scandal could be, right? If the press gets wind that the Moretti brothers are attending a fucking virginity auction, can you imagine the headlines?”

Sal stops by my desk, and his mouth twitches. “He’s right. You worry too much.”

Dante laughs triumphantly as I rub my temples, feeling the dull headache intensify. “This is insane.”

Dante teases, “That’s a funny way of saying thank you.”

“Don’t push it,” I say, leveling a warning look. “Just…keep this under wraps. The last thing we need is half the city finding out we’re dabbling in some questionable event.”

His expression softens slightly. “Relax, Nico. I might be reckless, but I’m not stupid. Discretion is my middle name, especially when it comes to protecting the family. Now, if you’ll excuse me…” He tilts his head at the door. “I’ve got a million calls to make, ensuring everything’s lined up for Saturday.” He heads out right behind Sal.

For a long moment, I stare at the closed door, still half-convinced this is some bizarre dream. A virginity auction. An entire weekend spent at a secret club with my two brothers, presumably bidding on…women who’ve never been touched. Normally, I prefer women with some experience under their belts.

It’s like going to a doctor. I don’t want the one who’s never seen a patient before. I want an expert.

And yet, I can’t deny the spark of intrigue that stirs in my gut. Maybe I’ve been too locked into my routine and my responsibilities, ignoring theotherparts of life.

Since when is Sal down for whatever craziness Dante’s into?

Weird day.

I guess I’ll find out soon enough if this is a clever idea or a ticking time bomb. As my team and I get restarted, I do my best to look attentive. But in the back of my mind, I can’t stop replaying Sal’s final words:We’re going.Just two words, heavy with finality. I know that once Sal’s decided, there’s no going back. Whether I like it or not, I’m in.

4

SALVATORE

The neighborhood fades away,and trees line the sides of the road. Not much further now. Dante sprawls in the passenger seat, fiddling with the radio until I finally silence it. Nico sits in the back, staring out the window like he’s indifferent to our destination—but I know him better than that. He straightens his tie for the thirty-fourth time.

I’d think by now my brothers would’ve learned how to maintain a proper poker face, but no. They’re both transparent as ever. Dante’s excitement radiates from every pore. That’s why he keeps fiddling with the radio. Nico’s barely contained intrigue is evident in the way he keeps adjusting his tie. They don’t fool me. I’ve been reading them since they were in diapers.

We pull up to a gated driveway lined with tall hedges. A guard in a black uniform waves me forward after scanning the invitation on Dante’s phone. My headlights illuminate a smooth path that curves around a massive old mansion. Stone pillars frame the entrance, and soft golden lighting glows in the windows. The mansion looks more like a hotel. A nice one.

The Armory.

---