The generals and soldiers arrive—Alexander at the lead, rifle barking. Ivan flanks him, pistol steady.
Caulfield’s men fall… quick, precise shots. No mercy.
I reach the driveway, chest heaving. Alexander spots me, lowers his weapon. “Boss.”
I nod. “Caulfield’s gone. You’ll find his body splattered on the ground.”
Alexander smiles and nods.
Ivan joins us, blood on his sleeve but moving fine. “Clean sweep.”
We walk over to Caulfield’s body. I kick it once—hard. “You got lucky,” I mutter. “Fell to your death. Too quick a death for a sonofabitch like you.”
“What matters is we won,” Ivan says.
“We?” I ask. “We definitely need to talk about my offer.”
“Soon,” Ivan smiles. “I’ve got some injuries I need to heal from first.”
Before we can talk any further, Eddie and Robbie run over—Eddie’s face pale, eyes wide. He throws himself into my arms. I hold him tight, breathing him in.
Robbie stands back, arms crossed, smiling faintly.
I look at him over Eddie’s head. “Thank you. For being such a good friend to my baby boy.”
Robbie shrugs. “He’s family, it’s what we do, right?”
I turn to Eddie, cup his face.
“I love you,” I say. “I want to be your Forever Daddy. But only if you’re sure that’s what you want. I can’t promise this is the last time you’ll have to see violence.”
Tears spill down his cheeks. “I want nothing more,” Eddie says. “Not the violence of course. But I’ll live with it if it means I get to be with youForever, Daddy.”
I kiss him, my perfect boy.
My men gather around. One steps forward—Grisha’s son, broad like his father. “The family stands with you, Pakhan. Now and forever.”
Others nod. Then before I realize it, cheers of agreement ring out.
I look for Ivan. He’s already walking away—toward the woods, coat flapping, disappearing into shadow.
Typical Ivan. He’ll show up again when he’s ready. I’ll find out what happened to him then, and see whether he’s ready to join my family.
For now though, I have everything a man could need.
I hold Eddie close.
As a Pakhan, the city is mine.
But as a Daddy, the whole world is.
Chapter 25
Eddie
Three months later…
The gallery is alive with that pre-launch energy I’ve dreamed about foryears. And this time, no sleazy owner or pesky politician is going to ruin things.
