His fingers tapped once against the arm of his chair.
"Then I saw it again with Navy. It was the same thing. You didn't ask questions. You didn't weigh outcomes. You reacted." He smiled faintly. "That's when I understood you."
My grip on my gun tightened, but I didn't interrupt him.
"You're not ruled by fear, Honor," he continued. "You're ruled by attachment — love and loyalty. That soft, foolish thing men like us pretend we don't need." He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "As long as you have people around that you love, I will always have leverage."
I didn't speak.
"So I did what any man who values control would do," Lucian went on. "I stopped trying to break you. Instead, I guided you. I put you on a path," he said simply. "Not to isolate you, but to build, to find your team, your brothers, and your chosen family. I let you believe it was strength you were forming, but it was insurance. Every bond you created became another line I could pull. Every person you loved became another reason you'dhesitate. You thought I was torturing you, but what I was really doing was making sure you'd never be free."
Lucian quieted, his expression and tone softening.
"You're dangerous on your own, Honor, but surrounded by people you love, you're predictable."
His gaze locked onto mine.
"And predictable men are easy to control. So, I'll ask again," Lucian voiced evenly. "How do we move forward from this?"
The room felt smaller, and the air carried a weight my lungs struggled to hold.
"Clear the room," I barked.
Lucian nodded once, and his men filed out.
"I need Mitch and Troy brought to the mill."
Lucian's mouth curved. "Why? Isn't Earl's death enough?"
"No. It was a mistake," I answered. Earl had been good to me over the years. He didn't deserve to go out like that, but I needed Lucian to show his hand. "Revenge is an art, not a storm. Earl's death wasn't necessary. That's on me," I admitted.
"Target the hands that harm," Lucian replied, pleased. "I understand. They'll be delivered tomorrow night. In return, I want Lynx's family gone."
"Why?"
"His father came to me for a loan. Ten thousand. That's crumbs to me, but a feast to someone else. I bought the debt. Lynx's father offered his son as collateral. Do you see where this is going?"
I nodded, mentally piecing it together.
"With the debt, you had an inside man," I muttered.
"I thought Choyce might've been an option. Then she set Chosyn up to kill Chance, so I had to pivot. Lynx kept me informed. You trained Crown right. He only told Lynx what heneededto know and nothing more. I was ready to abandon the whole thing and find a new angle until Lynx brought Rakim tome. River was Crown's weakness, and Rakim being from her past, along with Crown and River's past being connected, and?—"
"I don't need to hear anymore."
"I couldn't collect fully through the son, so now they have to go."
"I'll do it."
"Excellent. I also need Talon handled soon. Whoever you have watching him should have opened a door by now. Deal with Lynx's family, then Talon. After, I'll set a meeting between Choyce and the rest of?—"
"I want to be there not as Choyce's picchistore (enforcer) but as the new leader."
"Done." Lucian gestured toward the door. "I'm glad we had this talk. See yourself out."
I turned, tucking my gun as I walked.
"Honor," he called.
