“I’m sorry for your trauma,” Alistair consoled. “I get it, why you went into hiding. Dealing with her was a bloody nightmare. Fuck.”
Nick gave a faint smile. “On the bright side, Tokyo’s been good to me. I started from nothing, caught a few lucky breaks, and built something of my own.”
Alistair’s mouth curved, eyes warm with memory. “You always had a gift, turning thin air into gold.”
I moved closer to Nick. “Scotty says you drove the final nail in Saira’s coffin. That you helped him cut her out of the business.”
His expression flickered, a shadow beneath the smile. “I had to move so quietly that not even the left hand,” he nodded at Alistair, “knew what the right was doing.” He glanced down, studying his right hand as it tightened around the gloves he still held.
“Jesus, Nick. That’s how Saira plays her games,” I said.
“She only perfected what our father drilled into us.” His nostrils flared, high cheekbones tightening as if the memory still stung. He shifted, gesturing us toward the glass. “Come. See the city.”
Alistair shook his head and laughed. “You know I’m not fond of heights.”
“It’s worth seeing, Scotty,” Nick said, staring at the city’s endless lights under the darkening sky.
“Tokyo looks like Legoland on speed.” Alistair chuckled.
The two men stood together, tall and confident, undefeated despite life’s challenges. Nick was the first to break thecomfortable silence among friends. “I’ve grown accustomed to the Japanese culture over the years.”
“Do you speak Japanese?” I asked.
Nick’s grin widened. “Sukoshi dake. Anata wa boku no ichiban no riyu ni naru.”
Alistair arched a brow. “Translation: he just said you’d be his number one reason to stay here.”
Nick caught my hand and brushed his lips across my knuckles, eyes holding mine longer than polite. “I look forward to getting to know you.”
Alistair slipped an arm around my waist, his voice playful but edged. “Hey. I’m done with sharing.”
“Monogamy, eh? Fair enough.” Nick’s smile faded into something wistful. “On another note, how’s Alicia?”
Alistair’s face hardened, his jaw cutting sharp under the lights. “That’s why I’m here.”
Nick’s brow rose. “Oh?”
I turned from the window, Tokyo glittering like a galaxy behind us. “You need to return to Lester Harbor. You have a son who needs his father.”
Nick froze. Color drained from his face as he stepped back, his voice hollow. “I have a son?”
Alistair and I exchanged a look before I spoke. “We met your ex. She isn’t hiding from Saira anymore. And her boy is your mirror image.”
Nick’s throat worked. “Are you certain he’s mine?”
We both nodded.
“The queen is dead. Come home,” Alistair urged.
“Long live the king.” Nick clapped a hand on Alistair’s shoulder.
“And our new queen,” Alistair added, nodding toward me. “Vera and I are moving to Dubai. We need someone we trust to keep Lester Harbor in line.”
Nick let out a low chuckle. “So I’m back in charge of the Quinn family business.” His grin sharpened. “I also heard you’re selling The Church.”
Alistair’s expression was calm, but final. “I don’t have the time for it anymore. Are you interested?”
Nick’s eyes glinted, calculation written all over his face. “Considering it’s a cash cow? Yes. Very interested.”
