Page 10 of The Boss's Christmas
Byrnes narrowed his eyes on Conall. “You’re the pet, sir. Both of your lives are valuable, and if any of our boss’s enemies found out you were traveling alone—”
“The only way they’d find out is if one of the men betray us. Would they betray me, Byrnes?” Sloan fell back in his seat and crossed his leg at the knee.
Byrnes paled and shook his head. “Absolutely not, sir.”
“Then we won’t have a problem. Make sure I have a handgun in case something does go awry, and we’ll be fine.” Sloan’s waved his hand to end the conversation.
Byrnes bowed his head. “Yes, sir.”
“We’re beginning our descent.”
“Oh God.” Conall downed his drink and sat it on the small table beside him before he clutched at the arms of his chair. “I’ve decided I fucking hate flying.”
Sloan laughed.
Byrnes and a few of the men walked off the plane first, as was always required. They checked for threats before giving Conall and Sloan the all clear. They had landed in a private part of the airport that Sloan paid handsomely for so he didn’t have to worry about waits and other annoying passengers. All he needed to do was wait for their luggage to be taken off the plane and then they would be able to leave.
Rosita, Sloan’s Miami butler, was waiting for them at the bottom of the staircase. She bowed her head and smiled. “Hello, sir. Welcome back to Miami.” Sloan loved the way she dragged out her syllables and the city sounded decidedly Spanish coming from her.
She was an older lady with waves of white hair that she’d tied up into a bun. Sloan didn’t know her exact age, but if he had to guess, she would be in her seventies. Rosita didn’t act like it, though. Young at heart, she could change from the sweetest lady, to the meanest, in seconds, if she needed to. She protected their property at any cost. The Killough Miami mansion had only been hit once by Russians, and she’d taken an AK15 and blasted a whole lot of them. Sloan didn’t trust anyone else to watch his back here.
Even with the hot sun beating down on them, Rosita wore her black butler’s suit with white gloves, the exact same cut as the one Mr. Hopper wore in the Hamptons.
Sloan took her wrinkly hands and squeezed them. He kissed each of her cheeks. “Hello, Rosita. You look well.”
She chuckled and grasped his face between her hands and planted a kiss on his nose. She’d always done that since he was a kid, when Sloan’s father had first hired her. “Always a charmer.” Then she looked past him and at Conall, who hovered behind Sloan. “Is this him?”
Sloan didn’t have a chance to answer before she pushed past him and grabbed Conall’s cheeks, exactly as she had with Sloan. She pressed a kiss on his nose. “You’re adorable. Look at you. I’ve heard so much about you from Fionn.”
“Not many good things were said about me then,” Conall mumbled with a smile.
Rosita laughed. “Don’t let that boy fool you. He can be a sourpuss, but he means well. Yes, some things weren’t nice, but it wasn’t all bad.” She patted his cheek. “But I think you’re gorgeous. I shouldn’t expect anything else from a man who caught Sloan’s attention. You seem to be a keeper.”
A blush the same color of his collar flooded Conall’s cheeks and he ducked his head. “I suppose. For now.”
Sloan frowned at him. “Not just for now, pet.”
Conall shrugged and the awkwardness of the action made worry tighten in Sloan’s chest. He never wanted his pet to think he was temporary.
“Well, you’re in Miami now, where our first language is SpanishandEnglish, and where you’ll find more toned bodies than anywhere else.” Rosita tugged out a set of keys from her pants’ pocket and passed them to Sloan. She gestured at the bright red Ferrari that sat a few feet away. “I brought her like you asked.”
Conall whistled. “She’s beautiful.”
“Ferrari F8 Tributo,” Sloan answered the unasked question. He curled his arm around Conall’s waist and dragged him closer. “Do you want to drive, pet?”
The excitement danced in his eyes when he looked up at Sloan. “Can I?”
“Anything for you.” He handed Conall the keys before turning to Byrnes. “We’ll be fine. Go to the house and handle things there.”
“Sir….”
“Byrnes, I’ve given you my orders.”
His guard straightened and nodded. “Yes, boss.”
Sloan slid his hand down to Conall’s lower back and guided him toward the car. Conall took the driver’s seat, while Sloan slid into the passenger side. The roar of the Ferrari made the car tremble and unbridled delight passed over Conall’s handsome face. He grinned at Sloan and it did something to him. His stomach flipped, heart clenching in his chest. He’d pay thousands of dollars and more to see that look on his pet’s face.
“Where are we going?” Conall asked, revving the engine. They both listened to her rumble, feeling the power behind each purr. Sloan felt the sound down to his bones and serenity washed through him.
