The next hour drags like a slow suffocation. We gather in the kitchen, watching Sean and Kirill make beef stir fry. When it's done, we take the plates into Kirill's office and turn on the 13 screens on the table.
The babies wake from their nap, their cries slicing through the quiet. I go with Zara to get them. I lift Willow into my arms and bring her into the office. She cups my face with her tiny hand, oblivious to the war circling around her. I rock her gently, humming without thinking, my voice uneven.
Brax passes behind me, brushing a hand across my back like he's checking that I'm still breathing.
Zara bounces River, murmuring nonsense to him softly. Fiona plays with her broccoli, pushing it with her fork. Kirill presses buttons on hidden panels around the penthouse, double-checking every lock. Sean paces, stops, rubs his forehead, then resumes pacing.
The clock in his office ticks loudly. The tension mounts higher, and we all sit on the edge of our seats. The first SUV arrives, and a Royal Council member enters what will soon be their coffin.
The moon pulls itself up over the water outside, heavy and bright, casting a pale glow across the lake. Brax takes a seat with me and tickles Willow.
She giggles.
I smile at him, thinking about what a good dad he'd make.
"It's time," Kirill says finally.
Those two words hit harder than any ritual announcement I've ever heard.
The live feed shows all the different locations across the world. And at every site, the O'Connors planted death.
Please work.
Brax rises, stands behind me, and puts his hands on my shoulders.
I look up.
He winks, then leans down and kisses me softly on the lips.
Kirill slides the list of every Omni and Royal Council name to me. One by one, figures begin entering the buildings on different screens. All the highest-ranking bastards who thought they'd own my babies and me.
I cross out names as they appear.
Tiberio Marino.
Alessandrina Rossi.
Paddy O'Malley.
Lucien Ivanov.
Svetlana Petrov.
Kaitlyn Bailey
Franco Abruzzo
Names I once respected. Names I once believed held enough power to change the world.
Brax leans down and murmurs, "Want me to do it?"
I realize my hand is trembling. I force it to stop and shake my head. "No. I have this."
Something about checking off the name of the person who thought they'd steal my eggs gives me satisfaction.
When the last person arrives on the screen, I put the check mark next to their name. My voice barely comes out. "They're all inside."
Brax straightens slowly. His face hardens, transforming into something lethal. "Kirill. Give the orders."
