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on, that something inside of him was changing. But love was a foreign concept, and Dax hadn’t recognised it until she was removed from him. Ivy had known – that woman was too smart for her own good sometimes.
    ‘I’m interested,’ Mauri said. ‘I always considered you to be my son and now that you’re happily settled—‘
    ‘You want to come in and fuck it all up for me?’
    ‘No. I want to offer you more. As I understand it you’ve been working security at a strip club,’ Mauri smirked and actually laughed. ‘That’s a bit beneath you, don’t you think? You’re practically a weapon in your own right. Your skills are lethal in the ring and outside it when you are enforcing. If there’s one thing you know how to do it’s how to take a man out. How do you subdue yourself when you throw out a grabby customer?’
    ‘I know how to restrain myself,’ he growled, scowling at Mauri’s amusement.
    ‘Did Ivy work there? I can’t imagine how you would have reacted if a patron tried to take liberties with—‘
    ‘I would never let her work in a place like that,’ he said.
    ‘You shouldn’t have been working there either. Neither of you will have to worry about descending into those kind of positions if you consider my offer. All I am suggesting at the moment is that you consider it.’
    ‘Does Brad know you’re making this offer? Does Bruno?’
    ‘Brad is happy for you to come back and join us.’
    ‘I’m not coming back just because you can’t control your operation.’
    ‘You can control it, and we can offer you more. I am offering you a position here, a position of authority. You and Ivy can live right here at the mansion and you can keep your place in the family.’
    ‘Until you’re gone and then—‘
    ‘I think you can hold your own,’ Mauri said. ‘Once you’re back, and they know there’s nothing that they can do about it, you will all accept each other. Then when I am gone, you’ll already have a foothold.’
    ‘So I’m supposed to be grateful? No.’ Dax shook his head. ‘I’m not considering anything until I know you’ve laid it out to everyone. I’m not coming back to start a war with anyone. Truth is, I don’t care enough to fight for the sanctity of your enterprise.’
    ‘I think you do,’ Mauri smiled. ‘Why else would you be here?’
    ‘I came because Brad said you had something to say.’
    Mauri rose to his feet and came to stand in front of Dax. ‘Here’s what I have to say: I want you here, I want you running things, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.’
    ‘Whatever it takes?’
    ‘What’s your biggest problem? What’s the biggest barrier to you coming home and taking your place at my side where you belong? Is it Ivy’s objections? Or are you worried about Brad, Trystan, and Bruno?’
    ‘I don’t know.’
    ‘When you do, tell me, and I’ll take care of that problem for you.’
    Mauri began to shrink back, but Dax grabbed his shoulder, which was something he’d never done in the past. Both of them looked at the point of contact, stunned that it had even happened, but Dax didn’t release his hold. Reminding himself that he was no longer a lackey, and that he was stronger and faster than Mauri, he had nothing to fear here.
    ‘Don’t touch a hair on my wife’s head.’
    ‘There are other ways to take care of problems,’ Mauri said. ‘I want to show you my commitment to this proposal. If talking about it with the others will alleviate your concerns then I’ll take care of it. I have already set in motion a plan to persuade you.’
    ‘What plan?’
    ‘When it comes together, I will clue you in. For now, I’d like it to remain a surprise.’
    Mauri backed away and went to drink the rest of his Scotch. ‘It’s not going to happen,’ Dax said though he lacked the conviction he’d held when he first came in.
    ‘I want you to take my proposal back to Ivy, she will have to approve, I understand that. You must remind her