He rules fairly, not through fear, but through loyalty, earning devotion instead of demanding obedience.
The Italians got their warehouse as promised, but they haven’t cashed in on their favor yet. Hopefully, they won’t have to for a very long time.
Dominik asked me to be his second, and I accepted. I used to lead so that I could have an excuse to have control over everything, but that left me miserable and lonely.
What once felt impossible now felt inevitable.
I haven’t become a better man. Never that. But I’m finally able to admit that my pride nearly cost me everything that mattered.
Letting go of control has brought me more peace and contentment than I’ve ever felt before. My brother and I have a connection forged in blood and survival. It’s always been that way since the beginning, but we’re even closer now.
There’s no rivalry between us. There never should have been, and any damage done is on me.
I pause outside of my bedroom and peer inside to see the cage still sitting there. Of course, it hasn’t been used, but I’ve kept it standing per Alina’s request.
It lost all its power the moment she chose me without locks.
Now, it’s a good reminder for me that love only exists outside of cages. Outside of handcuffs.
Love can’t survive behind bars.
Control felt like safety to me, but all it did was cost me. I almost lost the two people who ended up choosing me on their own. The two people who mean more to me than anything else in this twisted world.
Honest love is far more dangerous than manipulated affection because it requires vulnerability. And for the first time, I’ve chosen it anyway.
I don’t pretend I’ve been completely forgiven for my past mistakes. I’m just grateful Alina and Dominik found me worthy of another chance.
I tear my gaze away from the cage and continue on, lightness spreading throughout my chest as I hear their familiar voices up ahead. I have a very important meeting to attend right now, and it sounds like I’m the last to arrive.
When I step into the meeting room, my eyes fall onto Dominik and Alina as they sit at the closest end of the long table.
They stop talking and look over at me, warmth filling their faces.
“There you are,” Alina says from her seat at the head of the table.She’s still here, steady, unflinching, choosing us both, making me feel worthy of her love each and every day.
“We were about to start without you,” Dominik adds, playfulness glinting in his eyes as he sits to her left.
Alina swats at his arm. “We would never.”
A smirk crosses my face as I walk over to her, resting my hand on the top of her chair as I lean down to peck her on the lips. “I know.”
I take a seat to her right, directly across from Dominik. I nod to him. “The Italians want to meet next week.”
“For?” Dominik asks as he lifts an eyebrow.
“Something about the warehouse. I’ll find out more at the meeting.”
Alina motions for us to stop. “No work talk right now. This is a family meeting.”
Dominik and I share an amused look with each other. We’ve resorted to calling our personal, private meetings “family meetings” to avoid any confusion. Too many meetings with too many topics happen day to day.
It helps to keep our personal lives separate from our work lives as much as we can.
Alina has handled all of this change without fear. She accepts every part of our life and doesn’t try to separate herself from the work that we do. She even helps where she can and offers sage advice.
She’s grounded herself in this life that we’re building together, and Dominik and I have done everything that we can to ensure that she remains protected and loved.
“We’re ready to begin when you are,” Dominik says, gesturing for Alina to take the floor.
