"You joined the mafia to protect us?" Lucy asks, her voice breaking.
I look at Marcus first, then at her. "Yes."
Marcus leans forward with his elbows on the table, and I watch something shift in his expression as his eyes move from me to the stars on my collarbones, then to Alena sitting beside me, then finally to Lucy. When his gaze lands on Lucy—on her tear-stained face, her trembling hands wrapped around her coffee cup—something breaks in him. I see it happen, see the exact moment he understands on a visceral level what I did and why I did it, because fuck, he loves her the same way I love Alena. He would do the exact same thing if someone threatened her. He would burn the world down and dance in the ashes if it meant keeping her safe.
"Okay," Marcus says, his voice steady despite the emotion I can see churning in his eyes. "How do we get the bastard dead?"
The question catches me off guard. "What?"
"Klaus. Your father. The one who threatened them." Marcus gestures at Alena and Lucy. "You're the heir, yeah? You've been working for him, earning his trust, climbing the ranks. Let's make it happen. Let's end this."
"Marcus—" Lucy starts, but he cuts her off.
"No. He's my brother. He did this for us. The least I can do is help him finish it." His eyes lock onto mine with absolute certainty. "I'm in. Whatever you need. However long it takes. I'm in."
My throat tightens. "It's dangerous. Klaus has men everywhere. If he even suspects—"
"I don't care." Marcus's voice is firm. "You didn't abandon us. You were protecting us. And now we protect you. That's what brothers do."
His voice cracks slightly on the last word, and his eyes get wet. Fuck. I'm going to tear up. Alena's hand squeezes mine again, grounding me, keeping me from falling apart completely.
My phone buzzes—loud and insistent—breaking the moment. I pull it out with my free hand, still holding onto Alena with the other. Text from Viktor: Mikhail is talking. Come now.
Damn it. I stand reluctantly, releasing Alena's hand only because I have to. "I have to go." I look at Marcus, holding his gaze. "Stay with them. Keep them safe. The guards will be here, but I need you inside with them."
He nods. "Count on it."
"Drogo—" Alena starts, standing up.
"I'll be back tonight. Stay in the house. Don't try to leave, don't do anything stupid." I'm already moving toward the door where one of my men left a fresh suit last night. Always have clean clothes handy when you're dealing with blood. "Marcus and Lucy can stay as long as they want."
"Stupid?! You're the one running off to—"
I grab the suit and change quickly in the hallway—black shirt, pressed and professional. When I walk back to the kitchen doorway, Alena is standing with her arms crossed, furious and beautiful.
"Oh, and babe," I say, unable to resist smiling despite the tension. "The crew is coming this afternoon. I'm redecorating."
Her eyes go wide. "You're what?!"
"New couch. New dining table. New chairs. All of it." I check my watch. "Should be here around two."
"You can't just—"
"Already done. Paid for. Being delivered." I wink at her. "You'll love the couch. Trust me."
"DROGO!" But I'm already out the door, down the walkway, sliding into the car where Alexei is waiting.
Dodged that bullet. The door slams, and the engine starts.
"Where to, boss?" Alexei asks.
"The warehouse. Mikhail first. Then the docks."
"Understood."
I lean back and pull out my phone, checking the cameras. Alena is standing in the doorway watching the car pull away with Marcus's arm around her shoulders and Lucy beside them both. Safe. Together. Protected. Good.
I switch cameras to check the perimeter—all guards in position, no threats visible. Then my phone rings. Klaus. Of course.
