Page 1 of Courting Danger

Chapter 1

Danger

“It’s worse than I initially thought,” Danger remarked as he sat across the desk from Mark in his office at Jokers Wild, going over the books from the strip club they owned. The venue had been losing revenue for months now, until Danger had started auditing the books and done a deep dive into the new manager. Mark had hired him when he’d pulled the place from Teddy’s supervision, and it had been a royal shitshow ever since.

“Son of a bitch!” Mark snapped when he looked at all the highlighted lines on the purchase orders and the way they failed to match the inventory at the club.

Liquor, the high-end stuff, in particular, had been funneled out the door like the bottles had sprung a leak. Not only that, but the headcounts didn’t match the take at the door, suggesting that either people were being let in without paying or someone was skimming from the till, maybe even both.

“Hate to be the one to point it out, Prez, but we never had any issues down there when Teddy was keeping the books and handling the inventory. Everytwas crossed, everyiwas dotted,and he kept a running spreadsheet of the headcount, along with any specials they’d ran on the nights that saw a significant bump in numbers pouring in,” Danger said. “He never handed me shit haphazardly shoved in a folder either.”

Grumbling, Mark scratched his head, looking grim. “Yeah, he was meticulous about his paperwork. Kat’s been struggling to keep up with everything in the office without him, and I’ve got to admit, it was easier to keep a handle on things when he broke down all the reports for me. You know how I feel about that shit.”

“Thus, my abuse of those yellow and lime highlighters,” Danger remarked.

“Use the orange one next time,” Mark grumbled. “That green is too fuckin’ bright.”

“Will do.”

Danger knew that look, the one that scrunched up Mark’s face like he was sucking on a persimmon. He was weighing options he wasn’t pleased to be caught between, trying to determine which he could stomach. Growling, Mark dug his phone out of his packet and started scrolling through his contacts before finally hitting a button, fingertips drumming on the desk as he waited for someone to answer.

“Is Teddy on shift right now?” he barked, forgoing any sort of pleasantries or proper greetings.

There was a pause, then Mark sucked in a breath, lips set in a grim line. “Send his ass to my office at Jokers Wild immediately.”

He jabbed the red icon to end the call but left his phone on the desk while he turned his attention back to the paperwork again.

“This is no longer about the personal shit,” Mark said. “Jester’s Delight is one of our biggest moneymakers. We’ve got family counting on the income they earn working there.”

“You’re giving it back to Teddy, aren’t you?” Danger asked.

“I don’t see any other options, unless you want to take it on along with everything else you’re currently juggling.”

“Pass,” Danger replied. “Making sure Roan doesn’t get himself turned into a lawn dart has been taking up enough time as it is.”

“He’s feistier than I thought,” Mark replied. “Didn’t flinch when I laughed in his face after he told me he wanted to prospect. I didn’t think he’d last one month, let alone five.”

“Didn’t flinch when he and Cody were throwing down, either, though I was shocked you didn’t force him to face someone bigger,” Danger remarked. “I would have.”

“Figured Cody would beat his ass, but I underestimated the kid. I took him for soft when he’s not, just desperate, needy, and an all-around fucking brat,” Mark declared. “Though not the worst to ever come through here.”

The pointed stare he gave Danger was a reminder of his early days with the club, when he’d been the one being cast withering glares whenever he entered a room. It was one of the reasons he’d offered to train Roan properly, so he learned where his role in the club ended and his role as a submissive began, because both were integral to who he was. The only problem was that Roan was hell-bent on his attention-seeking ways, even now that he had a prospect rocker on the back of his kutte.

“Pope straightened me out quick enough,” Danger replied.

“He did, didn’t he?” Mark replied, stroking his chin. “I hope you do the same with Roan before he pisses the wrong person off.”

“If he’d stop fuckin’ flirting with every man with a pulse, he wouldn’t have folks lookin’ to knock his teeth out.”

“True,” Mark replied. “But if he were getting the attention he craved, he wouldn’t feel the need to seek it elsewhere.”

“When I agreed to train him, I never said anything about making him mine,” Danger replied. “Figured I’d have him ready for the next auction, unless he hooked up with someone else first.”

“The rate he’s going, I doubt anyone would bid on him.”

“Which would be his own damned fault.”

“You seemed interested enough, in the beginning, anyway,” Mark commented, his eyes getting that shrewd look in them again. “Sure you’re not backing off out of jealousy?”