Page 51 of Midnight Legacy

“Protective,” he commented, nodding as if he approved.

“Was there a problem with my office?” I demanded, blocking his path from getting any further into my apartment and my life.

“Yes, this is a personal visit. I can’t do that in an office.” He gave me a shit-eating grin that made my fingers form a fist at my side.

“As far as Cassandra is concerned, her uncle died over twenty years ago. She doesn’t need ghosts from her past reappearing to haunt her.”

Dante’s gaze moved around, studying Ash before settling on Jordan. “Sometimes we have to do what is best for our families.” His attention snapped back to me. “You’ll find that when your child arrives. Your priorities change in a heartbeat.”

“My priorities already put my family first, hence the reason why my wife isn’t here to greet you.” I didn’t care what he wanted, my only concern was Cassandra. “Why are you here?”

“You told my men that you’d only deal with the person in charge of my organisation, so here I am.” He gave a theatrical bow and sauntered past me into the main living area.

Jordan moved imperceptibly in front of the doorway leading to the bedrooms. His gaze never left Dante, every aspect of him screamed that he was ready to launch himself at this man. We’d killed but we’d never added the sin of human trafficking to our souls.

We were villains, but honest ones with a moral compass.

“I don’t deal in the skin trade,” I commented dryly, tracking his movements.

It was a stroke of genius that Cassandra removed the cushions and throws. The apartment looked as it did before her arrival. All her colourful utensils were in drawers, and she’d lifted anything with a personal photograph in it. Her years watching over her shoulder had given her survival instincts.

“In a way you do,” he replied conversationally. “You allow people to delve into their deepest fantasises in the same way I do.”

A dark laugh emerged from me. “Everything I allow in my clubs is consensual and everyone is vetted to ensure they’re over the age of consent.”

He waved his arm at me. “Everyone is so worried about consent nowadays.”

“That’s because it’s the law,” Jordan snapped, his inner barrister appearing.

Dante stopped and turned to stare at him. “That depends on the country you live in.”

“They’re fucking children we’re talking about.” The air temperature dropped with every word Jordan spoke.

Dante never moved, in fact, there was something about the way he held himself that felt familiar, as if I’d met him somewhere in the past. “I have never touched a child in my life, so back the fuck off. In my world, you’d be dead right now for speaking to me in that tone.”

“No, you just hand them over to whatever sick fucks are waiting for them,” Jordan persisted. “People like you make me sick.”

Jordan was pinned to the wall before I had a chance to even register what happened. “I’ve warned you once, it won’t happen again. I’m not here to discuss the politics of my world with you or anyone else. I made peace with my situation a long time ago.”

“Get the fuck off me!” Jordan brought his knee up at the same time he grabbed the wrist of the hand at his neck, dragging it to Dante’s back.

The older man twisted before Jordan could bring him to his knees, bringing the base of his palm up to jolt Jordan’s head back.

“That’s enough!” I shouted, the slide of my gun being cocked making both men freeze immediately. “I really don’t want any brains on my wall, but feel free to try me.”

Dante’s head tilted to the side slightly. “I misjudged you, thinking you were not the type of man who kept a gun in his home.”

“I didn’t used to,” I replied tightly. “But then all these assholes kept turning up to threaten my pregnant wife. I protect what is mine, and even though you claim to be her uncle, believe me when I say that Cassandra is mine.”

Dante turned slowly to face me, his hands held up in front of him. “Perhaps we should start again.”

“Perhaps you should have met me at the arranged time and place.” The gun was steady in my hand and pointed directly at his head. Every instinct in me said to pull the trigger and be damned, but there was no doubt in my head that he came here today with insurance in case anything happened to him.

His sardonic grin told me that he realised we were at an impasse. He shrugged and turned away to wander to the window. “This suited me better.”

I cast a quick look at Jordan, who was having a problem controlling his emotions. I raised an eyebrow in silent question, and he shook his head.

“What is it you want?” I demanded, my temper starting to grow to that cold, dangerous level.

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