Page 19 of Midnight Legacy

My feet were moving the moment he walked toward her. “Cassandra? Is that you all grown up?” His arms opened and I felt Jordan fall into step beside me.

“Uncle Dan?” Cassandra replied, her expression confused. Her eyes flashed to me as I stepped between them, effectively cutting off his route to her.

“Hey, baby. Is this someone I missed on the family tour?” My fingers dug into her protectively and her body tilted into mine.

“Uncle Dan is my dad’s brother, but Dad said he died years ago…” Her face was so pale that panic began to rise in my chest.

His dark laugh was enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention, “He probably wished that to be so, but I am still here. How are your parents?”

Cassandra stiffened beside me. There was no way someone as powerful as him wouldn’t know his brother was dead.

“I’m sorry, but now is not the time for family reunions. Cassandra’s family was killed in a car crash when she was young. Funerals are already hard for her…” I let my voice trail off, but my expression was set in stone. Gone was the playboy that the world saw, and in his place stood the killer who would cut his tongue out for upsetting her.

“Frank and Elise are gone? What about Kimberley?” He was either a really good actor, or he really had no idea his brother was dead.

Cassandra’s other hand gripped me, her body swaying.

“Excuse us,” I replied, directing Cassandra to the door. Jordan moved to take the position on the other side of her.

We’d made it outside when Dante caught up, grabbing my arm to spin me around to face him.

“I’d advise you to take your fucking hand off me,” I jeered.

“Frank was my brother. What the fuck do you mean he’s dead? Malcolm kept me up to date on him and my nieces over the years.” His gaze moved to Cassandra again. “When? How?”

She wordlessly shook her head.

“This is not the time,” I reiterated. “You’re causing a scene.”

Curious guests had already found vantage points at the windows.

“I don’t give a fuck!”

“Well, I do!” Immediately I was in his face, Cassandra pushed behind me. “Maybe you should speak to your good friend Malcolm since he knew exactly where they were buried. I found him trying to rape my wife after he abducted her.”

Dante’s jaw tightened and rage burned in his eyes. “I would gladly have a word with Malcolm, but my belief is that is not possible anymore.”

There was no point in replying because both of us knew Malcolm would never be a problem again. It also made the point that I would protect my wife. Cassandra’s hands landed on my waist and her head pressed between my shoulder blades.

“Cassandra is my niece,” he grated out.

“Yeah, well, she’s my wife now.” Deafening silence surrounded us as we glared at each other.

“Please,” Cassandra said in a small voice. “I just want to go home.”

“Excuse us,” I snapped, pushing past him.

Grabbing Cassandra’s hand, I headed toward the side of the house. My car keys were in my pocket and I’d parked with the rest of Ash’s family because I didn’t like to be hemmed in.

“Zee,” Cassandra gasped, and she stumbled. Without missing a beat, I swung her up in my arms.

I needed to put distance between me and that man before my darkness took control and I did something I’d later regret.

Cassandra’s arm wrapped around my neck. “Thank you,” she whispered, and my heart shredded when I felt her tears against my throat.

Jordan took my keys and got into the driver’s seat, while I held Cassandra in the back. He took off down the driveway with wheels screaming as if the devil himself was chasing us. It certainly felt like that.

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