C3

Sawyer Brennan POV

"Did you see how his eyes stayed right on you?" Jack Donovan says loudly. He closes the heavy oak door of the Private Lounge Suite behind them. "That guy is totally crazy for you, Sean."

"What are you saying?" Sean O'Shea frowns big. He fixes the collar of his tight black shirt in the long mirror. "Boone Callahan barely looked up from his bright phone screen once."

"Not Boone," Jack Donovan laughs, waving his hand fast. "Boone is an idiot runner. I am talking about the Mafia Capo and Business Owner. Sawyer Brennan. Sean, he even walked over and brought you a special drink from his own hands. That powerful alpha wants you."

"Sawyer Brennan?" Sean looks shocked. His big blue eyes get super wide. "Are you out of your mind? He is just being polite because we are guests in Brennan's Reserve Restaurant. He is way older than me too. He must be thirty-five or forty."

"Older guys are the best," Jack Donovan smiles widely. "They have all the pack resources, and they know how to handle a man. They have real experience in the executive office and in the bedroom. Trust me, an older alpha knows exactly what to do with his body to make you happy."

"Stop talking," Sean blushes bright red. "You are completely crazy."

"No, really, Sean," Jack Donovan pushes his shoulder gently. "A powerful guy like Sawyer Brennan knows how to make a man shake. Not like the silly boys at the O'Shea Bakery & Café. A real alpha like him will touch your big body so good you will scream loud three times, and then he will make you feel even better when he takes you to bed."

"Oh my god, please stop," Sean whispers fast.

Sean feels his skin getting super hot. The heat moves fast from his neck down into his big chest and between his thick thighs. He cannot stop it. He thinks about how Sawyer Brennan stood right behind his chair. Sawyer has huge muscles and a deep, scary voice that sounds like heavy rocks rolling in the dirt. It made Sean's tummy flip upside down. Sawyer did not look at him with mean eyes like the bad kids in Blackthorn City who laugh at his big size. Sawyer looked at him like he was the most important person in the whole world.

And that special drink tasted so great. Sean never drinks strong liquor, but that sweet fruit mix felt warm and nice in his throat. It felt like it was made just for him. But Sean is just a hidden mafia heir who hides from the world. Sawyer Brennan is the big heir to the Brennan Syndicate. He is tall and scary, and all the syndicate employees jump fast when he looks at them. Why is Sean's heart going thump-thump so fast right now?

Sean looks at his face in the mirror. His cheeks are super pink, and his full lips are open a little bit. He wonders if Jack is telling the truth.

"Hey," Jack Donovan winks. "If you do not take that big alpha tonight, I might try myself."

"Do not say that," Sean glares at him.

"I am just joking," Jack laughs loudly. "That man only looks at you."

They walk out of the Private Lounge Suite back into the big dining room. Sawyer Brennan stands right at their table. He leans his big body down over Boone Callahan, and Boone looks like a small kid getting yelled at by an angry school teacher.

"What is happening here?" Jack Donovan asks fast.

Boone Callahan stands up super quickly. His face is white, and his lips are tight. "We are leaving right now," Boone says. "Come on."

"Yes, let us get out of this place," the other associate mutters. He runs fast toward the front doors and does not look back at all.

Jack Donovan looks at Sawyer Brennan with scared eyes. "What? Why do we have to go?"

"Pardon me," Sawyer Brennan says with a calm, dark voice. "You are welcome to stay, Jack. But I will not have these two garbage boys inside my building."

"Come on, Jack," Boone calls out from the door, pulling his jacket. "Let us move."

"No," Jack says, shaking his arm away. "I want to know the reason." He looks at the Mafia Capo. "Tell me right now."

All the noise in the big restaurant stops completely. Every single syndicate employee and guest stops eating to watch them.

"Sir," Sawyer Brennan says to Jack. "I want to tell you, but it is too nasty for this room. I will let your bad friend tell you outside. But here is some advice. He is a piece of trash, and he does not deserve your time. You can stay here. But if that boy does not walk out of my door in one second, my family enforcers will throw him onto the hard street."

Sawyer Brennan looks down at Boone with giant, scary eyes. Sawyer is a whole foot taller and looks like a big brick wall. Boone shakes all over, turns around, and runs out into the night. He disappears fast.

Sawyer Brennan turns back to Sean. His face gets very soft and polite. He bows his head just a little bit.

"Please accept my apologies for this bad trouble," Sawyer says. His voice is low and rich like warm chocolate.

He looks at Jack for a second, but then his eyes slide over to Sean and freeze there. He does not look away at all.

"I would be very happy," Sawyer says slowly, "if you would come with me to the Don's Private Dining Booth. It is the best place in the whole building. Tonight, it belongs to you."

Jack Donovan blinks his eyes fast. "Wait, the special Don's booth?"

Sawyer Brennan nods his big head once. "Only for our most important guests."

Jack looks at Sean with a tiny smile, then looks back at the Capo. "Actually," Jack says, "I think I am going to go home now."

Sean looks at his friend, totally shocked. "What? You are leaving me?"

Jack leans in and kisses Sean's cheek quickly. "You are fine, Sean. Have a great time."

Before Sean can say no, Jack walks away fast toward the big front doors. He leaves the restaurant.

Sawyer Brennan extends his big, strong arm to Sean.

"Shall we go?"

Sean places his large hand onto Sawyer's heavy arm before his brain can tell him to stop.

They walk together through the big room. Everyone watches them walk past the tables, but then people start talking and laughing again. Sawyer walks like a king who owns the whole city. He makes the cold room feel warm and safe.

They walk into a small, dark room near the kitchen. A beautiful, polished wood table sits inside. There is a thick glass window where you can see Declan Sullivan and his crew cooking food. The lights are very low and nice. The loud world disappears completely.

Sawyer pulls out a big, heavy chair for Sean.

"This is for you," Sawyer says.

Sean sits down. His whole body feels funny and warm.

Sawyer fixes the white cloth napkin on the table with his big fingers. Then he looks up right into Sean's eyes.

"My name is Sawyer Brennan," he says. His voice gets even lower and deeper. "This place—Brennan's Reserve—is my whole life. And you..." He keeps his eyes locked tight on Sean. "You are my special guest tonight."

The deep words make Sean's throat feel very dry. He cannot speak.

Sawyer sits down in the chair across from him. "Tonight," Sawyer says softly, "everything is free. No papers. No bills. Just you and me."

The clocks move way too fast. Sean and Sawyer talk and eat a lot of good meat. Then they talk more and eat more sweet desserts. Sean talks about his quiet life at the O'Shea Family Residence and his big dreams. Sawyer talks about his tough life as a Former Syndicate Enforcer and how he built Brennan Holdings from nothing.

Now the restaurant is empty and quiet. All the syndicate employees went home an hour ago.

The jazz music is very low. Sean hears his own glass make a tiny clink on the wood. He laughs easily now because the wine makes him feel happy. He leans his big chest forward. His broad shoulder bumps into Sawyer's big shoulder while he eats the last piece of sweet cake.

Sawyer does not want to be anywhere else in Blackthorn City.

"I have to go home now," Sean whispers, but he does not stand up.

Sawyer reaches his big hand across the table and covers Sean's large hand. Sawyer's skin feels super warm and rough. Sean looks up with his big, scared eyes. He looks like he is waiting for a command.

"Do not leave yet," Sawyer says with a dark, low voice. "Stay here with me."

Sean nods his head just a tiny bit.

Sawyer stands up from his chair. He walks around the big wooden table. He stops right in front of Sean. Sean looks up at his big face. Sean's breath stops inside his throat.

Sawyer puts his huge hands on the sides of Sean's face. Sean does not move away. He stays very still.

"Sean," Sawyer murmurs. His breath is warm.

Then Sawyer leans down and kisses Sean's lips.

It starts very softly and slowly. But then Sean lets out a tiny sigh against Sawyer's mouth. Something clicks inside Sawyer's brain. His control goes away fast. He puts one big hand into Sean's dark hair. He puts his other hand around Sean's thick waist. He pulls Sean's heavy body up against his big chest.

Sean lets out a soft, hot groan. He needs more.

Their big bodies fit together perfectly. Sean is huge and thick, and he is shaking a little bit. Sawyer kisses him again, much harder this time. Sean opens his lips wide for him. He has been waiting for this all night.

Sawyer wants to take him right now. He wants to throw all the expensive plates on the floor and take Sean right on top of the big table. But he stops his hands. Sean is a special hidden heir. He deserves a nice place.

Sawyer pulls his face back. His breath comes fast and loud. Sean's lips look big and red from the kiss. His cheeks are hot, and his eyes are wide and dark. His big chest moves up and down fast. Sawyer wants to rip Sean's shirt open right now to see his thick muscles.

"We must leave this place," Sawyer says.

Sean blinks his eyes slowly. "Leave?"

"There is a big hotel down the street," Sawyer says. He rubs his big thumb against Sean's wet bottom lip. "The Blackthorn Grand Hotel. It is a quiet Syndicate-Owned Property. We can have the Blackthorn Executive Suite. It is totally private."

Sean swallows hard. He nods his head.

"Okay," Sean whispers.

Sawyer takes Sean's big hand. Their large fingers lock together tightly.

They walk out into the night and leave Brennan's Reserve Restaurant behind them.