"Thank you all for coming. As you all know by now, my father and Cillian had a plan for both of our families. A plan where we would be less exposed to violence and treachery by removing ourselves from any illegal trades. We would shift to our main products being tea, whiskey, and surveillance technology designed for the average family, maybe larger corporations that align with our new goals, but no more gun trades. No more hacking into our enemies’ databases and exposing their weaknesses. We would live a normal life. Or at least we would try to return to normal business. But only if we all agree," I state, locking eyes with each person in the room.
Azula's eyebrows knit together. "What?"
"While my father and Cillian's plans were well-intended, they failed to consider those working for them and what they may feel. This would be a big shift, one we want to make, but only if our inner circles are in agreement. The transition won't be easy; we'll likely have to change our spending patterns. And neither of us is naive enough to think the other mafia will just leave us alone, so security will have to remain tight, if not even higher than before. But we plan on keeping everyone who wants to remain working for us. We have enough funds in our bank accounts to support all our employees for the foreseeablefuture." I lay out all the logistics before finally taking a deep breath.
"You're really serious about this?" Azula looks like she's going into shock.
"I am. We are." I correct, squeezing Declan's hand. "But only if everyone else is on board. If not, we'll just continue to keep business as usual. Or as usual as it can be."
Before I killed Cyrus, we'd tortured everything we could have out of him—the names of all the people in our ranks who had betrayed us, what other mafias had supported his attempt at usurping me and Declan, and all the other lies he's told us. While things still didn't feel fully settled, we at least felt comfortable enough knowing everyone who betrayed us was either dead or would be soon.
Azula stands. "Can I talk to you for a moment? Privately."
I follow her out into the hall and wait for her to start. "Why are you doing this, Z? This is going to change everything."
"I know, but I feel it in my heart that this is what we should do. It's what my dad would have wanted. I only wish he was alive to see it." Though there was a strong part of me that feels he’s looking over me now, that he’s proud of what I’m trying to do.
Azula looks like she's...nervous. An expression that doesn’t belong on her face.
"What is it, Azula? Tell me."
"Your new life… I don't fit in. All I know is destruction. All I am is a killer," she grits through her teeth, head hanging down in shame.
My heart aches for my best friend. Is that really how she sees herself? I bring her into my arms, squeezing her into a hug. "Azula, you are fierce, and strong, and so freaking brilliant. There is no version of my life where youdon't fit perfectly in it. We'll just have to adjust. Learn how to fix our problems with words and not knives," I tease.
"Lame," she retorts, returning my hug. "Thanks, Zahra. I needed that."
"Anytime."
We return to the room, Azula is the first to speak. “Zahra has my full support. No questions asked. Always and forever.” She smiles at me, though I can still see a hint of hesitation in her eyes. Change takes time to adjust to. But we would have each other.
Lorkan swallows hard, toying anxiously with the cuffs of his sleeve, “This is all your fathers wanted. All the three of us wanted. And yet…I can’t say I ever believed for certain itwouldhappen. Or that I would be alive to see it carried out.” Lorkan smiles at me, though it doesn’t quite meet the pain in his eyes, “I’m in favor of working toward this new future. I just wish Naser and Cillian were here to see it.”
My throat tightens, and I nod at Lorkan, knowing if I speak, my voice would crack and reveal my lingering grief. Declan grabs my elbow as a subtle reminder that he’s here. A reminder that we’re in this together.
Arman is the next to speak. “You and your family have always had my unwavering support.”
“Youaremy family, Arman,” I correct, placing a hand on his shoulder.
I turn to Connor, who was recently promoted to Declan's head of security, given how valuable he was in rescuing me.
He blinks, “I get a vote?”
“You’re a part of our inner circle now,” Declan confirms.
“Then I vote yes.” Connor smiles awkwardly, clearly not expecting any of this.
The final person left is Aidan, who is still recovering from his injury. Declan looks down at his shoes as Aidan addressesme, “First, I want to apologize to you, Zahra. And to my brother. For all the pain I’ve caused you both. I will do whatever I can to make up for it. Second, I am fully on board to start a new life. I think we all agree the mafia world has taken enough from us.”
“Yes, it certainly has. I accept your apology, Aidan. The second you took the bullet for me, I considered us even.” Which was true. Declan’s forgiveness was a separate case. One I couldn’t force.
Aidan’s face falls as he realizes the same.
“Alright then, let’s end here. We can ask our various financial officers join us for a meeting soon where we can plot out making this transition as smoothly as possible.”
I lean my head against Declan's shoulder as everyone leaves. He gives my waist a quick squeeze before standing up from the couch. "I have something I want to show you. I've been working on it for a while."
He leads me outside, then has me cover my eyes with my hands, keeping a hand on my waist to guide me through our backyard.
