It wasn’t aggression; it was a deep-seated fear of being hurt again by those he trusted.

I knew that fear intimately.

I knew what it was like to be used until you broke, then cast aside when you were no longer useful.

The SUV began to slow down.

We turned off the highway onto a private, paved lane lined with towering pine trees.

In the distance, the outline of a massive stone estate appeared against the dark sky.

It looked more like a fortress than a home.

High, black iron gates blocked the entrance, guarded by two men in dark coats holding automatic rifles.

The headlights caught the wet metal of the gates.

Dante rolled down his window, and the guard saluted before typing a code into a secure keypad.

The heavy gates began to swing inward with a low, grinding groan.

Suddenly, the SUV’s dashboard console flashed a bright, piercing red.

A loud, high-pitched alarm began to blare from the security system.

Dante gripped the steering wheel, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the security gate’s intercom screen.