Page 81 of The Syndicater (Dark Verse 6)

Dante frowned. "She was impersonating Amara?" That was stupid.

"No," Nellie clarified. "She said she was related to you. I didn't know what to do but since Dr. Maroni had given me clear instructions, I told her to come back later."

Dante stared at the window, thinking. The only one alive who went by Mrs. Maroni was Amara. His dead uncle's widow, Chiara, had been a Mancini. Rest of the relatives had different last names. And though Chiara was shady enough to pull shit like this, she had pretty much gone into the woodwork since his uncle died, and Dante cast out any of their loyalists. What the fuck was she playing at, if it was her at all?

He'd need to check the footage at the center just to verify it was her or see if it was someone else. Amara needed the breather andhe didn't have anything better to do, so he decided to check it out himself.

"Thanks, Nellie. I'll be there in an hour and check things out."

He cut the call and picked up his little princess, Xander standing up and accompanying him as he strode out to find his Zia, his wonderful mother-in-law, without whom he had no idea how he or Amara would function as parents. She was the only one they could leave their daughter with without a shred of worry, knowing that Tempest and her grandmother had a bond, that the older woman absolutely doted upon the baby.

He found her in the gazebo talking to Alpha about kids. He was happy for his brother. Fatherhood was a joy and a blessing he wished his brothers—blood or not—could experience in their own ways so their lives could be as rich as his was. And knowing both Zephyr and Alpha, he already knew they were going to be fantastic parents.

Zia saw them coming, her face creasing with a smile, wrinkles around her eyes that had once been smooth when Dante had been younger.

She automatically took Tempest from his arms, placing her on her hip, and turning to head back into the house.

"I'm taking a trip to the rehab place," Dante told Alpha, knowing the other man hadn't seen it yet. "Wanna come?"

Alpha straightened. "Sure."

"Can I come too?" Xander asked from his side. "I'll meet Lex."

Since Lex had been the center of attention for the strange impersonator, Dante saw no problem in letting the boy accompany them. "Of course." He took the younger boy's shoulder, and they all walked to take one of his vehicles.

In a few minutes, Xander was strapped in the back and Alpha took the passenger seat. Dante drove out, down the driveway and down the hill, heading toward the city. The rehabilitation center—or New Haven as Amara wanted to call it—was half anhour away, on the edge of the city. In just a little time, Amara had somehow managed to make it stand. He didn't know how she did it, between being a new mother and taking on her role by his side and her own practice, and take care of their new undertaking. Even after so many years of knowing her, she never ceased to amaze him with the sheer strength she possessed. he couldn't have imagined a better partner than her.

"How're you holding up?" Dante asked Alpha, breaking the silence. "With the baby and everything?"

The other man relaxed in his seat, so big he occupied the entire space in the large vehicle. "Good," he said, his voice gruff. "I was ready for a family, and she needed something to keep her going. I'm glad for the baby."

Dante nodded, happy to hear that.

"How did you give her your gift?" A voice asked from the back, and Dante looked in the rearview mirror to see Xander looking out the window.

"What gift?" Alpha asked him, his face frowning permanently on one side. Hector, the sick bastard, had done a number on him. Good thing he was dead. Alpha had told him that the Shadow Man might have killed the man after brutally torturing him. For once, he was on the same page as the mysterious man. Anyone who tortured and killed a piece of shit like Hector had a point in his book. He didn't know what the Shadow Man's beef with him had been. He'd cryptically told Alpha that Hector had broken his toy, and it made Dante wonder. Had it been a thing or a person? Did he have someone he cared about that Hector had hurt? Given that asshole's tendency to hurt people, Dante wouldn't be surprised to learn it.

"The one you gave Zephyr," Xander brought him back to the present. "She told me you gave her a gift that made the baby."

Dante exchanged a look with Alpha, a grin splitting his face as he swallowed his laughter. His brother sat stumped at his side, floundering to find the appropriate words.

A streak of mischief, the one that loved pissing off Tristan, came over him. "That's a great question, Xander. But it's something I think you should ask Tristan. He can explain it to you best."

"But he's not given Morana his gift," the child retorted.

"Oh, I'm sure he has," Dante chuckled. If he were to count the number of times he had seen them before or after they did dirty things, he would need ten hands. He was happy for both of them, really. They both deserved a happy relationship and great sex. But the way they'd been at it in the beginning especially was hilarious to Dante.

"But Morana doesn't have a baby in her belly."

Tristan was going to murder him, but what the hell. "Well, when you talk to him about it, maybe you should suggest he do it correctly. He might not be delivering the gift properly."

Alpha snorted next to him, making Dante laugh again. Xander was going to grow up one day and look back on this conversation and think Dante was his funniest uncle and thus the best. It was all about future planning and investment in child favoritism.

They reached the center's gates, guards on the side opening them when they saw Dante's car pulling in. Nellie was at the entrance waiting for them.

Dante parked the car, and they all got out, walking to the main building. Alpha looked around and took the place, and Xander looked around like he was searching.

First things first. "Nellie," he greeted the efficient woman. "This is Xander, Lex's friend."

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