She almost let out a huge sigh of relief. Was that all? It wasn’t ideal, but her involvement in what had once been his domain was going to come out sooner or later.

‘And what?’ she shrugged. ‘It’s a free country.’

‘And what?’ he shouted. ‘You’ve been laughing at me all along, haven’t you? I’ve been trying to play nice for our son’s sake, and all this time you’ve been trying to get one over on me. Trying to muscle in on my business.’

She laughed. ‘Trying to? I think you’ll find I’ve succeeded, Nathan. I have my fingers in a lot of pies. More than even you. Well, the you from back in your glory days at least. I hear you’re not doing quite as well as you once were.’

Slamming his empty glass onto the bar, he walked towards her. She’d taken off her heels a few minutes earlier because they’d been rubbing her feet, so he towered over her five foot four frame. Glaring at her, his body shaking with anger, he snarled. ‘I know who every one of your dealers are, and they will all be working for me before the month is out. This is my world, Grace. You’re a little girl playing with the big boys. If you’re not careful you’re going to get yourself hurt.’

Grace could feel the anger radiating from him. Memories of their past forced themselves into her consciousness. The shouting. The beatings. The constant anxiety of living with his rage. Him, always angry. Her, always afraid.

‘You asked me what I want, Grace. Well, I’ll tell you. I want it all. I will take everything you have until you’re on your knees begging me to throw you a fucking bone,’ he spat.

Grace reached up her hand and stroked his cheek, noting the shock flicker across his handsome face. Just for an instant, his eyes softened, pupils dilated, his jaw relaxed as he pressed his cheek into her hand. This man was a ruthless bastard, but he loved her. More importantly, he wanted her. And she wasn’t afraid of him anymore.

Looking up into his eyes, she smiled sweetly. ‘I don’t play with the big boys, Nathan, I give them their orders. I think you are the one who needs to be careful, sunshine. This is my world now and you are a guest. You get to do your thing because I allow you to.’

Grabbing her hand, he pushed it away from his face. ‘I think you’re forgetting who you’re dealing with.’

‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘I know exactly who I’m dealing with, but do you?’

‘You’ll fucking pay, Grace. Soon,’ he snapped before pushing past her.

‘I already have,’ she shouted after him as he let himself out.