Page 140 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8

That smile had won him better favours by then. He’d adored sex and had been passionate lover. A faithful one too—at least for the brief time any tryst had lasted. For he adored women and made it very clear it was just sex...

Goodsex.

And lots of it.

With a side serving of charm.

But those days were long gone.

His parents were dead, and he and his brother’s once close relationship was severed.

He didn’t want tothinkabout happier times, let alone feel.

And so he didn’t.

His relationships were now deliberately remote and brief. He trusted no one and his career was his sole focus.

Dante, despite his client’s current anger, knew that come next Christmas there would be champagne delivered from him and he’d be recommending Dante to colleagues and friends.

Not now, though.

His client stormed in through the door and slammed it closed.

Dante remained seated.

Somehow, despite the status of his client, Dante remained the absolute authority.

Ice versus fire.

And when it came to Dante Casadio ice always won.

Nothing could melt him; his angry client was like a blow torch against a vast glacier...

His client attempted to start where he’d left off, perhaps not understanding that he was in Dante’s office now. ‘I mean it. She’s not getting—’

‘Enough!’

Dante called for him to be silent and as the incensed client—angry, offended—met Dante’s gaze, no doubt about to remind his attorney of just who he was talking to, the tirade was abruptly halted. There was something in Dante’s brown eyes that could, when they so chose, halt an army.

‘Take a seat.’ Dante gestured to the chair in front of his desk and waited until he had done so. ‘If you thump my desk, I shall ask you to leave. If you thump me, I shall see you in criminal court.’

‘I just—’

‘I’ve heard enough,’ Dante interrupted. He pushed the neat file towards him and stood. ‘We can speak again once you have read the proposed settlement in its entirety.’

He walked to the window, staring at the impressive structure of Milan’s cathedral.

The documents would take some time to go through, but Dante was used to that.

His intention had never been to specialise in family law, but then, Dante had never lived his life as others intended.

Sev had.

Or rather, he had tried to for a while.

What did his brother want?

God, he hoped Gio was okay.