Page 3

“I’m being watched,” Dante shared. He didn’t have more than that. Nothing more than a feeling.

“By whom?” Nicholas questioned. He strode forward until he was close to leaning over the railing, which put him dangerously close to Syn when the raven did the fly-by that she was famous for. Nicholas to jerk back and out of range. “Damn bird.”

“She doesn’t like anyone getting too close,” Dante defended. Really Nicholas should have known that Syn wouldn’t have left the area without one last pass by Dante.

“Who’s watching you?” Nicholas demanded. “And here? At your home? That should be impossible!”

“Those are very good questions,” Dante replied with a slight shrug of his shoulder. Perhaps he should be more concerned. However, this was the most exciting thing he’d faced in several years. Truthfully since the night that the rogues rose up trying to take his home and clan from him. They’d failed but people, humans and clan, had been hurt.

“Could be the pack,” Nicholas suggested. “With Ben Foreman taking over as alpha, the pups have been coming into the city more often and staying longer. Hours past the shifts we allow them to work. I’ve initiated a no-contact order for our people unless the damn dogs start something. It would be bold of them to come here to Blackstone though.”

“Keep an eye on them. No pack members should cross the city’s borders without a work permit or authorization to do business.” Dante approved of Nicholas’s course of action. Although he believed dealing with wayward werewolves was just a distraction. Same with the demons that had been showing up more often. No, this was something different.

“You don’t think it’s them though, do you?” Nicholas asked sounding like he agreed.

“I’ve known Foreman for decades. He might be trouble down the road. He’ll come at me head-on, wanting to rely on that code he lives by.”

Nicholas snorted.

“I know.” Dante waved one hand carelessly. The werewolves were their own worst enemies. All the talk about codes and allegiances left them vulnerable to deception. Dante had used the werewolves’ strict protocols against them himself.

“The witches then?” Nicholas questioned. “There is no way the demons will stop their in-house fighting to organize anything against you.”

“The covens want more power. We’ve been holding them off, giving them most of the southern region of the state. Still they want more,” Dante agreed. “Possible. This just feels different.”

“It has to the humans then,” Nicholas declared.

Dante hummed. Possible. Yet. Were the humans brave enough to come after him? Not normally.

“I’ll have security tightened,” Nicholas vowed.

“Do that and let me know if they find anything unusual,” Dante ordered. He would wait and see what whoever was watching did. Sometimes the best defense was allowing his opponent to reveal themselves in time for Dante to destroy them.

“Should you go into the club tonight?”

Just thinking about missing out on his favorite night had Dante wanting to snarl. One night a month his club catered to Dante’s favorite kink. While he could find a partner whenever he wanted, Dante preferred to come across a boy in a more natural setting. He’d paid for scenes over the years yet Dante often found himself disappointed by the end of the interaction. It was always a show. A distraction. Never what Dante was truly looking for.

Naturally thinking about finding a boy for the night resulted in Dante’s cock perking up. It had been too long since he played.

“Double security for the night,” Dante ordered. “I do not want to be interrupted once I’ve made my choice.”

“I’ll see to it personally,” Nicholas said.

“What is Jesse going to think about that?” Dante wasn’t the only one that looked forward to this night.

“My boy will be fine. We’ll stay in the playroom with you,” Nicholas stated. “You know he’s always looking for more playmates.”

“That would be easier if you allowed him out of the house once in a while,” Dante teased. He straightened his tie, then flattened his hair where Syn had been playing. The suit he wore screamed money and power. Dante would attract any boy that he desired.

“You know as well as I do that it is not safe for such a sweet boy to be out and about in our world,” Nicholas replied gruffly.

Dante faced his friend. “It wouldn’t be such a concern if you turned him.”

“I’m not having this conversation again,” Nicholas growled. “I gave Jesse the choice. It’s up to him to decide when.”

Shaking his head, Dante dropped the argument. The only subject that Dante and Nicholas ever disagreed about was the fact that Nicholas hadn’t turned his boy yet. Just thinking of the consequences that Nicholas would have to live with by putting off claiming his boy for eternity nearly soured Dante’s mood. Hadn’t Nicholas learned anything by Dante’s own failure?

“Come on, old friend,” Nicholas said. “Let’s go find you a boy.”