Pride swelled in my chest—how had the years slipped past so quickly? Seeing the man and father he’d become filled me with afierce, aching joy, but also surprise at how much I longed for the simplicity of those old days, when love meant a bedtime story and a kiss goodnight. I wondered if he ever thought about those nights, too, or if he even remembered them.
When Danika finally drifted to sleep, I watched as Dante closed the book, placing it quietly on the nightstand. He eased himself up, careful not to wake her, then tucked his daughter in and brushed a kiss across her forehead. He lingered just a moment to check the nightlight before walking to the door, pausing to crack it just enough.
As he stepped into the hallway, the gentle hush of bedtime lingered between us, making my next words feel almost out of place.
“I need a favor.”
Dante looked genuinely surprised, eyebrows lifting as he asked, “Me? You want a favor from me?”
I groaned. “Don’t act so surprised—you’re not off the hook just because you’ve gifted Sinclair with a granddaughter.”
He chuckled, shaking his head with a familiar spark in his eyes. “Alright, lay it on me.”
“I want you to break into Sinclair’s personal server at the New York residence.”
Dante stared at me as if I had instantly grown three heads. His eyes widened, and for a long moment, the silence stretched between us. I could see him processing my request, struggling to wrap his mind around what I’d just asked. He blinked a few times, caught somewhere between disbelief and confusion, and I watched as his mouth opened, searching for words, then closed again when none came. Finally, he glanced past me, as though expecting someone to jump out and reveal that this was all part of a joke—a punch line waiting in the wings. When nothing happened, he whispered, “Excuse me?”
“Shall I repeat myself in Latin?”
Dante’s reaction was immediate and unmistakable. “No,” he said, his voice quick and emphatic as he shook his head furiously. Without hesitation, he grabbed my arm and dragged me across the hall into his room. Any other person would have earned a broken arm for such a move, but considering I had just dropped a shocking request on the kid, I let it slide. Once inside, Dante closed the door quietly behind us, but the calm ended there. He spun around to face me, eyes wide and posture tense, and shouted, “ARE YOU NUTS?!”
“Not that I’m aware of,” I shot back, my voice dry as dust. If Dante wanted reassurance, he’d come to the wrong person.
He started pacing, hands shoved in his pockets like he was holding onto a lifeline. “Rowen, this isn’t funny,” he hissed. “You know Sinclair—he’s infamous for tearing people apart if they cross him. You know that, right? If he finds out I even thought about looking at his personal server, he’ll make me disappear. Literally.”
“I’m well-versed in the concept of death threats, Dante. So, can you do it or not?” I tried to sound detached, casual even, but my chest tightened at the thought of what he might find—or what I might never know.
Dante’s brows knitted. “I mean, I-I guess I can try,” he stammered, barely meeting my gaze. “I’m not in the league of Sypher or Nav. Sypher’s a code prodigy; Nav’s the stealth wizard—me, I’m just a guy who dabbles. But... what are you hoping to dig up?”
“Information about my past. Sinclair mentioned legacy.” My words came out sharper than I intended, echoing in the small room. I knew the word legacy derived from the Latin wordLegatus,which meant ambassador, referring to a person who was appointed. And knowing Sinclair enjoyed keeping valuable items and people close, especially if those people had specific ties to help further his greed, then it only made sense thatSinclair kept me around for a specific reason. I never cared before, because whatever he did didn’t bother me.
Now, I was bothered.
Dante slumped onto his bed with a shaky sigh. “Oh, man. You scared me for a second. That stuff’s in his filing cabinets in his office. It’s where he keeps all the personal files about us. I thought you wanted something crazier.”
“Already saw my file there. It’s just a bunch of notes from when I was at the Trick Pony. What I want is buried deeper—on Sinclair’s private server.”
He swallowed. “Like what, exactly?”
I hesitated, then let the mask slip for just a second. “Who I really am. Who my parents are. Where I come from. All the information Sinclair gathered over the years since our escape. Shit I refused to acknowledge because I didn’t care to know.”
He blinked. “Then why not ask him for the information now?”
I stared at Dante as if he’d sprouted a third eye. Sometimes I wondered if he’d been dropped on his head as a baby, because it didn’t take a genius to know Sinclair wasn’t the confiding type—especially when the secrets he kept allowed him control over everyone around him.
He groaned, rubbing his forehead. “Sorry. Forgot for a second who we’re dealing with.”
“Are you going to help me or not?”
Dante looked up at me and groaned. “Fine. But if Sin learns the truth, I’m throwing you under the bus.”
Chapter Four
Ghost
“Baby, come to bed,” I groaned, my voice rough with exhaustion. The room’s air felt heavy, thick with Mellie’s anxious pacing. She paused only to glare out the window, arms folded protectively around her stomach. Ever since Sinclair had shown up in Albin, Wyoming, she’d been wound tight, a storm bottled up inside her.
I couldn’t blame her. Seeing Sinclair offer his help solidified that things were getting bad back home. Nav had told me in confidence that King, Reaper, and Montana were calling in every marker they had to protect the old ladies and kids. However, it was the thought of my brothers prepping for war without me that made my chest ache, but Mellie was pregnant and terrified. When she begged me to stay, there was no way I could walk away from her.
