“The New York families reached out. They’re unhappy with what you did to the Russos.”
I expected that. The New York families are nominally my allies, but they’ve always been shifty. They’re too powerful to ignore and too useful to outright destroy. I’m always forced to negotiate and play their game when I’d rather cut their throats and drown them in their own blood.
“Invite them to the Resort. Offer no apologies.”
“Frankly, Mass, I’m not sure they’ll come.”
“Make it clear that this invitation is not one they can safely ignore.”
“Are you willing to risk conflict for this girl if they refuse?”
“Thisgirlis my wife now.”
“Right. Of course.” Lucy’s lips press together. “You know, the night you slept with her, I told you to blow off some steam. I didn’t tell you to knock her up.”
“Unexpected consequence. I hope you don’t think you’d survive lecturing me on the use of contraceptives.”
“I’d never dream of it.” She gives me the ghost of a smile. “Now that she’s here, maybe you’ll start having regular sex for the first time ever. I keep saying you need an outlet.”
“Are you done talking about my private life?”
“I guess.” She waves and walks back to her desk across the room.
I scowl at my second. She’s such a pain in my fucking ass. If she weren’t so damn good at what she does, I would’ve killed her a while ago.
But I learned something when I was a younger and much more brutal man.
I can’t surround myself with scared sheep.
If all I hear is bleating and crying, I’ll never get good advice.
I need strong personalities if I’m going to continue to run my empire.
I need Lucys and Satyas and more. There’s always a fine line to walk, but I’m not so stupid that I think I can start murdering anyone with an opinion.
I only wish I could.
It’slate by the time I make it back to my apartment.
My private space is high in the Fortress tower. The elevator opens for me, Satya, Lucy, and now Allie. I’ll have to add Rosie soon, but not until she’s older. The kitchen smells like cooking, and I notice there are dishes left out in the sink. I stare at them for what feels like too long, lingering in the strange feeling of other people having been in my home.
I knew what it meant to bring Allie and Rosie here. I’ve been alone for a very long time. I was aware that there would be an adjustment period.
Only I didn’t expect that to start in the middle of a simmering war.
This conflict with Medved is the biggest challenge I’ve faced since becoming Dragon.
I pour myself some wine and stand at the window in the dark. I don’t bother with lights. The moon reflects off the ocean. The view is truly stunning. I wonder if Allie stood here looking out. I wonder if she saw nature’s majesty like I do, or if all she could think about was this prison I’ve trapped her in.
Not that anyone will call it herjail.
But that’s what it is, at least until she accepts her position.
I drink and wish things had been different. I found out about Rosie only a few weeks after she was born. I had a team infiltrate the Russo house, steal a piece of Rosie’s DNA, and I had my private medical team perform the paternity test. Once I knew the child was mine, I had her surveilled and guarded twenty-four seven as discreetly as humanly possible.
They never knew I was watching them.
That was enough. I can handle relationships from a distance. There were more pressing matters: tortures in Damascus, bombings in Warsaw, a string of assassinations in Suriname. I like to keep busy.
