"We did good." She touches my hand. "All of us."
"No. This was you." I pull her closer. "Your plan. Your strategy. Marcello and I just backed you up."
"You let me have room to breathe. That's..." She struggles for words. "That means something."
"Yeah. It does." I kiss her forehead. "I'm learning. Slowly. But I'm learning."
"Good. Because I'm not going anywhere." She leans into me. "We're in this. Together."
"Together," I repeat.
We sit there for a moment. Quiet. Calm.
For the first time since Antonio died, I feel like I'm not drowning.
No—it's more than that. With her beside me, with her mind and mine working together, I feel more powerful than I ever did alone.
"Come on," I say. "Let's go home. Celebrate properly."
She smiles. "What kind of celebration?"
"The kind that involves you, me, and absolutely no clothes."
"Sounds perfect."
We leave the restaurant. Emmanuel and the men fall in around us. Protection. Security.
Back at the compound, I take her to our bedroom. Lock the door.
And I worship her. Every inch. Every curve. Every mark Adrian left that's finally fading.
She's mine. My wife. My partner.
And I'm never letting her go.
That night, after Igor's meeting, the statement goes live.
JOINT STATEMENT FROM THE MARINI FAMILY AND IGOR VOLKOV
The Marini family extends its support to Igor Volkov as the rightful successor to Alexei Morozov and Pakhan of the New York Bratva. Mr. Volkov's leadership, experience, and commitment to stability make him the natural choice to lead the family forward. We look forward to continued cooperation and mutual respect.
It's formal. Professional. Political.
And it's a declaration of war against Artem.
Subtly. But clear enough.
"Response?" I ask Marcello. We're in my office. Gemma is beside me. Where she belongs.
"Bratva is buzzing. Some support Igor. Some are waiting to see what Artem does." Marcello scrolls his phone. "But the statement matters. It gives Igor legitimacy. Makes Artem look like the aggressor."
"And Artem?" Gemma asks. "His deadline was today."
Marcello checks his phone. "No word. Radio silence."
"That's not good," I say. "He's planning something."
"Good." I lean back. "Now we wait."
