Page 73 of Midnight Legacy

“Great. We have a situation that I need your advice on.”

“Oh, and what’s that?”

My eyes moved to my wife sitting watching me. “Cassandra had keys to an old safety deposit box at Dragon’s Hoard. We went to collect it and the security went crazy. Jordan was at his apartment close by when I texted him, but I dread to think what would have happened.”

“When was this?” I could almost visualise the smile on his face since I came to him with my problems.

“A few days ago. She wanted to see if her mother’s engagement ring was in the box since it had never been found.” It was as good an excuse as any, and considering we had it, the ring added credibility to our visit.

“They normally just bring the box to the viewing room,” he stated.

“Yeah, I know because I have a few boxes there. We were just going to see if the ring was there and leave. Because of their reaction, we took the contents and ran.” I deliberately paused. “I need you to look at the contents, Dad.”

“Normally, you get Jordan and Ash to help out.” He was being evasive.

“They’ve already checked them out, and we’re at a loss. I need your help, Dad, because I no longer know what is going on.”

“Where are you?” he snapped. “Did you take precautions not to be followed?”

“Yeah, I’m in one of the family safe houses at the moment with Cassandra. I didn’t want to worry her because of the baby.”

“Good. I will need to reach out to some of the other Council members. Frank Jenkins belonged to a bygone era and we may need their help to understand his ramblings. Are the contents safe?”

“Yeah, I have them in a box.”

“I’ll be in touch soon. You did the right thing reaching out to me.”

“Who else would I go to, Dad?” There had been a time that Dad wasn’t just my father but a close friend as well. Over the years and countless girlfriends that friendship slowly eroded.

I ended the call with a heavy heart. The tone of his voice had gone from apprehensive to excited. He wanted the information in that box, and that terrified me, especially after the reaction it had already garnered.

Cassandra silently watched me. She crooked her finger at me, and without thought I moved toward her. She stood and held her arms open. You never knew what was missing from your life until you found it. Cassandra granted me a precious gift that no one else did. She saw the real me, looking beyond the façade and finding the person behind the mask.

Her arms closed around me as she stood on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around my neck. “Nothing matters but us,” she whispered in my ear.

The truth of her words sunk into my bones. It was true. The only thing that mattered was that she was safe and by my side. My head burrowed into her shoulder and I held her until I was afraid that I would hurt her with the force of my grip.

“When do we head out?” she asked.

I shrugged one shoulder. “Probably tomorrow morning by the time we work out routes and detours.” We settled ourselves on the sofa with Cassandra resting against my chest.

“Then tonight we enjoy the company of our friends, and tomorrow we face the past and finally bury it.” She soothed her hand over my heart.

“What if the past keeps coming back to haunt us?”

“Then we keep dragging everything into the light until there are no secrets left to be told. It needs to end before the next generation are brought into it.”

She was right. It was said that the sins of the father was passed onto the third and fourth generations. Since my first child was on the way, I needed to ensure that those sins ended with me.

Cassandra’s phone pinged where it sat in the kitchen. I ignored it until it pinged again.

“Let’s hope it’s not more dick pics,” Cassandra muttered. “Why do men think we want to see that in a text?”

A laugh rumbled in my chest. “Does that mean you don’t want me to send you any to your new phone?”

“You do realise that I’m the only one who gets to see it in person?” She smiled and wiggled on my knee to prove her point.

“I wouldn’t object to more pics of you in sexy lingerie.” I pressed a quick kiss to her lips. Her last one was my contact picture for her. It made me smile every time it appeared on the screen.

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