His Inheritance

Who Do You Trust?

"Can't sleep?"

Steve looked up to see Dyson in his doorway. A quick glance at his watch revealed it to be just after 3 AM. Raking a hand through his hair, Steve shook his head.

What happened just a few hours ago had him shaken. Hansen brought a group of mercenaries to his home while he was gone, while the heads of the five families were meeting over the discord in the ranks that he called. And he didn't even make it to the meeting.

What was this? The fucking Godfather? The bastard worked for Barnes. And Barnes wasn't even trying to hide his contempt for Steve's leadership. It was a direct challenge, and it required a swift and harsh retaliation.

His wife was sleeping in his bed upstairs. Since he'd announced his intention to marry her, to claim leadership of the families, Clint had been shot. A shop on his turf had been hit hard. And now this.

"Hansen was here for her." Steve was direct. "He came so close."

The concern on his man's face mirrored what Steve felt in his chest. The side of Dyson's face was bruised, his arm in a sling from the attack earlier.

Motioning to the chair on the other side of his desk, Steve said, "Please, have a seat. You should be resting."

Dyson waved him off. "I'll be fine, boss." Still, he slowly made his way to that chair and took a seat.

"I'm thinking we have rat in our ranks," Steve said finally.

Dyson's expression was grim. He nodded.

"Someone knew where to find Clint that night," Steve pointed out.

"Yeah, but Clint wasn't where he was supposed to be." Dyson blew out an exhale. "And then this horrible fight your sister got into with her husband."

Fight, by all accounts, was putting it mildly. Since Clint had been shot, Steve had kept him away from Nat. To protect them both. Maybe Nat was unhappy about that and picked a fight with Bruce. It wouldn't be the first time. Maybe...

"You heard anything about that fight?" Steve asked. "Since I didn't make it over there. Or to the meeting of for that matter."

"You not making the meeting was Barnes' intention," Dyson said angrily. "But Barnes was there, and fuck knows what he said to the others."

Barnes likely tried. Tony wouldn't just buy it. Neither would Sam. Thor? He could honestly go either way.

When Steve didn't have anything to add to that, Dyson shook his head. "I put Scott on it, but he didn't hear much. Thing I don't like? No one has really seen Nat since that fight."

Steve considered that. "What do you mean? I've talked to her."

"Unless it was by video chat, you haven't seen her."

"What are you saying?" Steve knew what the older man was insinuating. "Yeah, Bruce has a temper on him. But..."

"They haven't fought like this since she fell that time," Dyson threw out there.

Steve blew out his frustration. "We've talked about this," Steve told him. "She was too close to the stairs, and she fell."

Dyson eyed him skeptically. "You really believe that? She broke an arm, and a leg. Luckily she didn't break her neck. And the baby..."

Steve stopped him there. "Yes, it was awful and I all but threatened Bruce to tell me the truth about that. You know I did."

Dyson nodded at that.

"And what if that baby wasn't Bruce's, huh?" Steve pointed out. "You ever thought about that?"

"Sure, I have," Dyson told him. "Bruce knew about the pregnancy. If he really thought it was his, why would he have gotten in a fight like that with her? Why take the risk?"