Dane

At least his father gave him clothes, he supposed. It had almost been a joke, how long he'd kept him naked, right up until they were due for this meeting. Then suddenly a full suit—rich wool, with a silk tie—showed up in the office, and Dane was ordered to dress. "We can't have you at a disadvantage against the others. None of them will be happy that you're back. They were all hoping to take your place," his father smiled.

​​

Now, here they were, in a room full of criminals and thugs, his father holding court, catching everyone up on what had happened over the past few days. And all these men—and one woman—glared at him whenever his father wasn't looking.

Dane stared right back whenever they did. It was surprising how quickly the instincts kicked in now that he was back under his father's hand. He'd thought it would be an adjustment, but he'd met those heated gazes with a cool, undisturbed certainty that he hadn't practiced in a long time.

He knew how these people worked—like a wolf-pack. It was all about dominance and strength. Never show weakness or uncertainty.

And don't let on that their simmering rage bothered you.

They needed to know that he was unwavering, or they'd come after him themselves, let along what his father would do.

Dane sickened himself, but he smiled at the woman when he caught her staring, and met eyes with the massive, older man who ran his father's security.

He wondered if Tank would be able to take the guy down.

"Are you okay, Dane?"

"I'm fine, Dad," Dane said, running a hand through his hair.

"So, my son is back—which means exactly what you think it means," his father said to the others. "But don't worry, I have him on a tight leash, just to be safe. You can trust him with anything, because if he betrays us, his wife dies. It's that's simple. And he knows it. So do not fear. Be as open as you like with Dane. He has a sharp mind and I look forward to seeing what he'll add to our enterprises over time."

The others didn't react—didn't even nod. Just stared at him, and Dane felt sick, but forced himself to sit straight without fidgeting.

Then the door opened and everyone turned. A man, younger than his father, but much older than Dane himself, stepped in. His hair was slicked back from a widow's peak at the front, and his pinstripe suit hung off him like it was custom made.

"Sorry I'm late—" the man started, then his mouth dropped open. "Dane?!" He powered across the room with a hand out to grasp Dane's.

"Felix?" Dane stood and greeted the man, pulling him into a hug.

"How long has it been?"

"About twelve years."

"Wow… just, wow. You look good, son!"

"Thank you—so do you, for an old guy."

Felix laughed and clapped Dane on the shoulder. "Are you back then?"

"We were just getting to that part," Dane's father said through a tight smile.

"Well, I better sit down then. Serves me right for being late, huh?" Felix winked at Dane.

Dane kept the smile up and settled himself back into his chair. But inside his stomach churned. Felix was his father's fixer. The criminal version of what Lila did. Except this man was… he did his own dirty work. He'd been Douglas Daniel's most trusted staff member since Dane could walk. The fact that he'd suggested he hadn't known Dane had returned suggested either he was lying—as told to by Dane's father—or Dane could expect to be under the man's scrutiny very, very soon.

He swallowed, and turned his attention back to his father.

The rest of the meeting was a briefing over several projects or "initiatives" as his father called them. All criminal. All taking full advantage of the corrupted law enforcement and justice staff his father had to call on.

Dane wanted to throw up. Nothing had changed. His father hadn't mellowed. If anything, he'd become more ruthless. More impatient.

"Over the next few days I'll have all of you fill Dane in. We can figure out what's going to pass to his oversight, and what will stay with me. Until then, get your ducks in a row, people. We have some changes coming," his father concluded, like it was a staff meeting at store.

The men and one woman all muttered under their breaths, but no one spoke up. Douglas Daniels' empire wasn't a democracy, it was a dictatorship. And Dane was being brought in as heir to it all.

With a gun at his head.

He could feel himself beginning to quiver inside, the stress of this—that it was real. That he had to go through with it—hitting him hard.

The whole thing was just fucking surreal.

For a minute Dane just stared at the room, the people, his father holding court like it was some kind of harmless staff meeting, when Dane knew dozens—if not hundreds—of people had died at the hand or word of one of the people present.

That's when it hit him. He was home. He was back. And for the immediate future at least, there was no apparent relief. If he made the moves he'd originally planned, his father would have Lila dead before he cleared the city block.

There was only one chance anymore. And it was completely out of his control now. Completely. Dane's head spun.

If this was going to change, he wouldn't know when, or how. Only that when it happened, if it didn't go off without a hitch, his wife would be dead... which would leave Dane with no reason to keep fighting. His hands shook.

"You okay, Dane?" A friendly voice said at his ear. Dane turned to find Felix leaning in, all the people around him getting up from their seats, sending wary or angry glances at Dane, but otherwise just preparing to leave.

"Uh. Yeah," Dane said carefully. "Just taking a trip down memory lane."

His father approached, smiling, and shook Felix's hand. "Good to see you two back together again," he said warmly. "Dane, I have a welcome-back present for you."

Dane blinked at his father and braced for impact.

*****

Dane walked along the corridor, deeper into the hive of his father's empire, with Felix. Felix who wasn't physically the largest, strongest, or most intimidating man in his father's circle. He was, by far, the most cheerful and charming of his father's associates—and someone Dane had enjoyed being around when he was younger.

And yet, Felix was the man that the others all stepped carefully around. No one ever wanted to cross him—and Dane knew why. He'd personally seen the results of Felix's work when he was a teenager. He shuddered to think what the man was capable of now that he'd had another fifteen years to hone his craft. Felix was one of the smartest people on the planet—and he knew it. He was smart enough to know how to manipulate or manage others to get what he wanted. And he was smart enough to get away with whatever he needed to do when he couldn't.

Dane had never found himself on the attention end of Felix's work. And he didn't want to start now.

"Took you long enough," Felix said quietly as they strode down a long hallway. The carpeted floors and vaulted ceilings had given way to eight foot stud and linoleum as they descended. But now, Felix opened a large door at the end of the hall and they stepped into what looked like a basement—concrete walls, fluorescent lighting, and polished concrete floors. Dane swallowed.

"I resisted," Dane said, equally quietly. "But I know when I'm beat," he said.

Felix laughed. "I doubt that. You're your father's son, Dane. You always have been. Are you aware of who he has on his team yet?"

"I'm aware of enough," Dane said, like he didn't care to hear any more, though his ears perked. "I should have known."

"Yes, you should have. Your father doesn't miss a trick."

Dane prayed that wasn't true.

They took another corner, then pushed through some swinging doors and down another identical hallway. Dane was struggling to keep track of all the turns they'd taken, which he suspected wasn't an accident. And if he didn't miss his guess, being down here meant no cellphone coverage, and likely no heat stamps either.

Then they stopped at a white, metal door with no markings or signs, but a weight to it that made Dane pay attention.

"Do you have a phone, Dane?" Felix asked.

"No."

The man smiled. "Welcome to the bunker," he said, pulling a set of keys out of his pockets. "And before you get nervous, we're talking old school security. No cellphones, no internet. Hardwired power only."

Dane did his best to look relaxed, though he suspected Felix should have added "Soundproof" to that list.

*****

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