Decision made.
“It’s done. Shipments, payouts, recruits… everything goes through my grandson first. It’s time for this change,” he finalized.
He looked to my father:
“Step down before it’s taken from you.”
And then to me?—
“Don’t make me regret this.”
I held his gaze. “I won’t.”
He nodded once.
That was respect.
Real respect.
Not given.
Earned.
My father stared at me like he didn’t recognize me anymore.
Or maybe like he finally did.
“You think you won?” he said, voice low now, dangerous in a different way.
I didn’t react.
Didn’t give him nothing.
“You just signed your own death sentence.”
I stood up. “We’ll see.”
When I got outside, the night air hit different after leaving a room like that.
Cleaner.
Like something just shifted in the world, and only a few people know it.
I got in the car, started the engine, and sat there for a second.
Not emotional.
Just… aware.
I pulled my phone out and hit FaceTime.
Emily picked up on the second ring.
Daylight filled the screen.
France.
Bright.
