"Two vehicles. You take the lead SUV with your family. I've got the rear." He glanced at the burning warehouse. "Police are three minutes out. Fire department is right behind them. We need to move."
I carried Leo to the black SUV, Isla close behind me. As I opened the door, sirens wailed in the distance, growing closer.
"Go," I told the driver. "Fast but not suspicious."
The SUV pulled away from the curb. Through the rear window, I watched the warehouse collapse in on itself, a pillar of fire and smoke rising into the night.
Matteo was in there somewhere. Maybe alive, maybe not. I didn't care.
I had what mattered.
"Cassian?" Isla's voice was shaky. "Is it really over?"
I looked at her—dirt-streaked, exhausted, traumatized. Then, at Leo, who'd already gone limp against my chest, tiny fingers clutching my tactical vest.
"It's over," I said quietly. "You're both safe now."
She leaned against me, and I wrapped my free arm around her shoulders, pulling them both close.
The driver navigated through Brooklyn's streets, taking side roads, avoiding main arteries. Behind us, Marco's SUV followed at a careful distance.
My earpiece crackled. "Boss, police have the scene. Fire's spreading to adjacent buildings. They're evacuating the block.
"Casualties?"
"Matteo's people. Twelve down, three critical. Our team had two wounded, both stable. Dmitri lost two. That's it."
I closed my eyes. Two of Dmitri's men are dead. For my family.
"Make sure their families are taken care of," I said quietly. "Triple the standard death benefit. And personal calls from me."
"Already arranged."
Twenty minutes later, we pulled into the Morrison building's underground garage. The driver took us directly to the private elevator.
When we reached the penthouse, Isla carried him to his room. I watched as she tucked him in, singing softly until his breathing deepened.
Then she moved past me to the living room windows, arms wrapped around herself.
"He saw you," she said. "Saw what you did."
"I know."
"He asked if you were going to hurt that man more. Like violence was normal." Her voice broke. "He's two and a half years old."
"I didn't kill Matteo. I could have. But I didn't."
"Because Leo was there."
"Yes. But I made a choice."
She turned, tears streaming. "What kind of life is this?"
"The kind where he's alive. Where you're both safe." I closed the distance. "I can't promise you normal. But I promise I will always protect you both."
She searched my face. "He called you Cass. When he was looking for you."
"I noticed."
