His Inheritance

A History of Violence

"I don't like it, boss," you heard Dyson mutter in the kitchen.

Yeah, okay, you were lurking. But Luca had told you Steve would be out tonight, something to do with bad things happening in his business. You just came down a little early for dinner is all.

"I don't like it either," Steve's voice was low. "But if I don't call a meeting, he'll get ahead of me on this. Make it look like I have something to hide. And that's not how I like to operate."

One of Dyson's long-suffering sighs. "What's Barnes gotten himself into?"

"That's what we're trying to find out," Steve told him. "I have my suspicions."

"You taking Neal and Clint with you, right?"

"With the situation with Bruce? No. Clint stays here," Steve told them.

"What's going on with Banner?" Luca's gruff tone cut in on the conversation.

This time it was Steve who sighed. "I'm stopping in for a surprise visit when I'm done with this meeting. Nat's probably provoked him again."

"Probably," Luca replied.

"She's a good kid," Dyson pointed out. "Ain't right the situation she's in, boss. You know I've always thought that."

"She created the situation," Steve told him. "Banner would never have strayed if she hadn't taken back up with Clint the minute he got back. Once upon a time, Bruce was crazy about her."

"Not her fault she was never going to love him," Dyson said.

You smiled at that. Dyson was right.

"It was more than that," Steve went on. "Clint's a soldier. Banner is my lawyer. She's safer with him. Much safer. She can keep the lifestyle she's always had... Besides, that marriage greatly benefited this family."

"It's going to break her, Steve." Dyson wasn't backing down. "She's your sister."

A beat passed. Steve at a loss for words?

"I didn't ask her to do something I wasn't willing to do myself," Steve finally said. "My marriage was arranged too. And it also benefited the family."

Luca's chortle had you covering your mouth to keep from laughing with him. "Is that what it is?"

"What?"

"Your lips move but your father's voice comes out. All you did was force your sister and the old boss's daughter into marriages neither one wanted," Luca explained. "Arranged marriage my ass."

"I don't know what can be done about Nat's situation," Steve told him. "My own wife? She's coming around."

"Yeah? You better hope she is," Luca went on. "Your wife? She ain't Nat. There's times when she sounds like her father. Your sister plays the drama card because that's all she knows to do. Your wife is learning every card in the deck. You shouldn't underestimate her."

Silence as their words registered with you. You were intimidated and pleased all at the same time. They thought you had potential?

"Just keep her safe for me," Steve's tone was serious. "Okay?"

"You got nothing to worry about," Luca told him.

When Steve walked out of the kitchen, he found you sitting at the table, scrolling through your phone. You didn't act like you'd noticed his entrance. When he walked around to stand behind you, you smiled.

"Heading out?" you asked, placing your phone on the table.

"I am." Easing around your hair, his warm lips teased your neck. The quick slide of his tongue on your skin had you shivering in your seat. "What are your plans while I'm gone?"