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"I assure you, we do," Chase said "And I’m sure JUSTIS would be very interested to hear how one of Boston’spillars of polite society has secretly been involved in illegal sport and various other unsavory pursuits"

"That’s insane," Gates refuted with a scowl and a dislower solely on Nathan "If you think hue ht, you’re sorely runted "Mr Gates made it clear to me that he does not approve of my interest in Jordana and won’t pered It hadn’t fazed his went down tonight--the way Jordana looked at hi more to worry about when it caht never want to speak to hi her father away fro her heart

And he wouldn’t blame her

He had never deserved her Their worlds had been too different froht had proven that

Bitter truth, and it didn’t make the cold hollow in his chest ache any less

He wanted nothing o to her now and offer co would be all right

But as he watched her father protest and begin to squirive Jordana any of those things

Martin Gates’s guilt ritten all over him He was a man with deep secrets, secrets he’d apparently kept hidden for aze said he knew the respectablewas about to be ripped away Gates had been living a lie that was suddenly about to be exposed

And when it was, nothing in Jordana’s life would ever be the saery for a er," Gates announced, one final, obvious bid to halt the disturbing conversation before it went any further "I demand you release me at once, or I’ll--"

"Or you’ll what, Mr Gates?" Chase interjected cal to law enforcement? Coues? Or maybe you have other alliances you think you can lean on The kind of alliances you and Cassian Gray thought you could keep in the shadows, along with your other less-than-respectable business dealings?"

Gates’s expression went slack "I have no idea what you’re talking about"

Chase stared at hied quiet for a fewbefore him to Jax, Eli, and Rafe positioned near the door of the interrogation room

Abruptly, he bit off a curse and vaulted to his feet "I don’t have to sit here and listen to this bullshit I’ You can expect to hear from my lawyer--"

Nathan took a half pace forward, subtly blocking Gates’s path There was no need for words or physical persuasion Gates took one look at the flat intent in Nathan’s eyes and iain, the last of his bravado fled and he peered up at Nathan, studying him nervously There was defeat in theburden carried for far too long

Gates lowered his head When he spoke, his voice was subdued, reduced to a thready , then?"

"You and Cass covered your tracks very well," Chase answered "It took us a while to unravel it all, but you couldn’t hide forever We know you own La Notte Cass may have run the place, but the club and all its profits--illegal and otherwise--belong to you Noe need you to tell us about any other dealings you’ve had with him"

Gates looked up, eyes narrowed "Since when does the Order have the license to police a citizen’s private or business affairs?"

Chase wheeled on the vaht last hen Opus Nostrulobal peace suenuinely taken aback "Are you saying you suspect that I--or Cassian Gray--had anything to do with that?"

Chase lifted a shoulder "I haven’t heard you say you didn’t"

"Well, I didn’t Neither did Cass, I proh and leaned back in his seat "I should hope the Order has better leads on the attack last week than whatever supposed evidence you see me, or Cassian Gray, to those terrorists of Opus Nostrum" Gates paused, pointedly cleared his throat "If there is nothing further--"

"He’s not telling us everything" Nathan approached hi in the look of relief on the Darkhavenhe’s invested in with Cassian Gray What else are you trying to hide?"

Gates scoffed "Cassian Gray is s are between us We may not run in the same social circles, but last tirunted "Do you havemoment "If you have questions about Cass, maybe you should ask him, not me"

"I would," Nathan said "But unfortunately, soht"

Gates’s mouth moved soundlessly He sed then "Wha--what are you saying?"

"Cassian Gray is dead He was attacked and killed outside La Notte"

"Dead" Gates’s face hite "He worried that he’d risked tooHe was fearful when I saw him the other day That didn’t seem like Cass"

There was shock in the Breed rief as well He’d lost a friend, and it took him a moment to process what he’d just heard

Then a new shock seereater hush to the Darkhaven vaht away Cass ed a look with Sterling Chase "What about Jordana?"

"Where is she?" Gates asked, a franticness creeping into his voice "Daet out of here" Gates rose, hisas if he were about to bolt for the door "I have to talk to Jordana right now I need toas he faced Gates "What the hell does any of this have to do with her?"

The Darkhaven male turned a troubled look on them "My God," he breathed "You really had no idea, did you? My friendship with Cass, the business partnership It was all about her Jordana is Cassian Gray’s child"

23

JORDANA STOOD IN THE CENTER OF THE MUSEUM LOBBY, PARALYZED, watching in a state of nu, surreal shock--as her father was taken away and the exhibit party abruptly ended, all of her guests scattering in the Order’s wake

There hispers and curious, pitying glances as people hurried out A few murmured reassurances that itthat Martin Gates could have somehow run afoul of Lucan Thorne and his warriors

Jordana wanted to believe that

She wanted to believe Nathan would come back anyto alleviate the ragged hurt inside her