"Assurance that this doesn't happen again.That if one of mine steps out of line, you come to me first before putting them in the ground."
"Same goes for you.My brother was protecting his family.But if your boys come at us again, there won't be a conversation first."
"Understood.We done here?"
"One more thing.Anyone else involved in Morrison's operation?Any other organizations we should know about?"
"No.He kept it tight.Just him and whoever he could pay.No other players."
"Good.Then we're done."
The wire goes silent.Ghost is coming back.
We all breathe a little easier.
"It's over," Rogue says, disbelief in his voice."They're actually walking away."
"They're smart," Tempest says."Smarter than Ethan, anyway."
"Or they're just cutting their losses," Sniper adds."An entire chapter and three of his own brothers dead isn't worth a war.Not over money they weren't even getting."
I don't say anything.I just listen to the silence where there could have been gunfire, violence, more death.
Evangeline's safe.The kids are safe.And we didn't have to burn the city down to make it happen.
Ghost walks in twenty minutes later, looking as calm as ever."We're good.Hawks are backing off.It's done."
The relief in the room is palpable, brothers who've been tensed for war finally relaxing, finally breathing.
"That's it?"I ask."Just like that?"
"Just like that.Their president isn't stupid.He knows when to fold."
"And if he changes his mind?"
"Then we deal with it.But I don't think he will.He's got bigger problems than us."
I nod slowly, letting it sink in.It's really over.The threat's gone.The danger's passed.
Now comes the hard part.Living with what we did.Building something from the wreckage.
"I'm going to check on Evangeline," I say, standing.
"Yeah, you do that."Ghost's expression softens."Take some time, brother.You've earned it."
I climb the stairs, exhaustion finally catching up with me.When I open Evangeline's door, she's awake, watching the doorway like she's been waiting.
"It's over," I tell her."Shadow Hawks are backing off.No retaliation, no war.We're safe."
She closes her eyes, tears sliding down her cheeks.Relief, maybe.Or just the weight of everything catching up.
"Come here," she whispers.
I cross to the bed, careful not to jostle her injuries.She shifts to make room, and I lie down beside her, fully clothed, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.
"It's really over?"she asks against my chest.
"It's really over, Angel."
