date with him. A date that he was apparently not going on.
“Laz, what are you doing?”
At the soft, husky voice, Jack froze. He’d recognize that voice anywhere.
Laz kissed the beautiful man’s cheek before gently shoving him at Jack. “Happy birthday, Fitz.”
Fitz gaped at Jack, then arched an eyebrow at Colton. “You know, most people just get their friends a shirt or a gift card for their birthday.”
Colton waved a hand in dismissal. “Gift cards are so impersonal.”
“So you buy me a date.”
“With a very cute guy.” Colton winked at him. “I can give him to someone else if you don’t want him.”
Fitz lifted his chin and looped his arm through Jack’s. “I didn’t say I wasn’t keeping him.”
Jack’s smile couldn’t get any wider.
“Wait. That came out wrong. What I meant to say was, um…” Colton and Laz laughed, earning a glower from Fitz. “Oh shut up. Come on, Jack.”
“Yes, sir.” Jack allowed himself to be led away by Fitz. They headed toward a table near the back when Sacha’s name was mentioned. They turned just as the crowd whooped loud and cheered. Joker walked out onto the stage, bowing as he made his way over to Ace. For all his griping and bitching, Joker wasn’t one to turn away from an entire crowd of men vying for his attention. He soaked it up, bowing, then turning and lifting the tails of his suit jacket to shake his ass. The crowd ate it up, a bidding war quickly starting between several men. Ever the showoff, Joker removed his top hat and flattened it. He whistled, and Chip bounded onto the stage.
Next to Jack, Fitz looked delighted. “I have to give it to Joker, he might be a grumpy shit, but he knows how to work a crowd.”
“You got that right.”
Joker held the flattened hat out, and Chip sped toward it, soared over it, then ran back as Joker lowered the hat. Chip slowly got on his belly to crawl under it. Then he ran to the end of the stage, turned, ran back to Joker, and jumped onto Joker’s back when he bent forward. The cheers were deafening as Joker carried Chip on his shoulder with ease. The bidding was getting crazy, and then one voice pierced the noise.
“One hundred thousand dollars.”
The room went silent.
Holy fuck! Jack’s jaw dropped. That was the most the Kings had ever gotten for anyone, even King. Ace almost tripped over himself in an attempt to get closer to the front of the stage to see who’d bid.
“Um, right. We have one hundred thousand dollars. Going once. Going twice.”
“Who is it?” Jack asked, craning his neck to see. The crowd started to move, speaking in hushed whispers as the mystery man emerged from the shadows of his booth at the end of the room.
Beside Jack, Fitz gasped. “Oh my God.”
The man finally came into view. Something about him seemed familiar. His hair was pitch-black, the waves neatly combed back, his goatee trimmed. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a narrow waist. Everything about him was striking, from his hooded eyes and chiseled jaw to the confident way he moved—like he was someone everyone should take note of.
“Do you know him?” Jack asked Fitz, receiving a nod.
“Yeah, he’s—”
“Sold! To Mr.…?” Ace asked.
The man stopped in front of the stage, the corners of his lips lifting as Joker eyed him warily. “Galanos. Giovanni Galanos.”
Four
Jack cursed under his breath. Giovanni? As in Gio, Laz’s brother? Jack was as stunned as Sacha looked. Joker’s eyes were huge as realization dawned on him. From here Jack could read Gio’s lips.
“Hello, Sacha.”
Jack turned to Fitz. “I thought Gio was on another continent somewhere.”
“You hadn’t heard?”
“Heard what?”
“Gio called Laz the other night to give him the good news. He’s moving back home. For good this time. I didn’t think it would happen so fast, but then that’s Gio for you. He sets his mind on something and doesn’t stop until he gets it.”
Jack had no idea what to do with that information. He turned back in the direction of the stage, where Joker descended the stairs. Jack cringed. Ooh, Joker was not happy. Jack stared dumbstruck as Gio stepped up to Sacha, took hold of his chin, and kissed his cheek. The club lighting made it difficult to see, but Jack was pretty sure Joker’s face looked like it was about to catch fire. Sacha was frozen to the spot. Seeming to shake himself out of it, he thundered away with Gio following gracefully