"I cannot keep Emmaleen alive without visibility into both relationships. You want her? Fine. You want to share her between Boston and Riverview? Great. You want to fuck her while wrapping your hands around her throat?" His jaw tightens. "Then I'm in the room. Every. Single. Time."
Lorcan shifts his weight. "That's?—"
"Non-negotiable," Jino repeats. "You don't like it? Walk away now. Both of you."
I stare at my cousin.
Relief floods through me so fast it's dizzying.
He's staying.
Jino is going to walk away from his legacy, from the Bavga family's judgment, from whatever safe distance he maintained before tonight.
He's going to stand at my side.
But not for me.
For her.
"Agreed," I say quietly.
Lorcan is shaking his head. "What the hell are ye bastards talkin' about? Sharing?" He's looking at me. "What the hell is this?"
"This is… whatever we want it to be, Lorcan. But before I explain that part, let me tell you what I got in return for betraying my family and giving up my biggest secret."
"Aye, it better be somethin' fuckin spectacular!"
I look at Lorcan. "Luca gave me Providence."
Lorcan's eyebrows shoot up. "Rhode Island?"
"The entire territory. He's been trying to clean up the mess there for years. Local Italian families are incompetent—bad leadership, shrinking operations, bleeding into your uncle's Boston shipping routes." I pause. "Luca needs someone competent to absorb Providence without starting a war. Someone who can work with the Irish mob."
Lorcan's expression shifts as he connects the dots.
"Providence is ninety minutes from Boston," I continue. "Two hours maximum, depending on traffic."
Jino exhales slowly. "That solves the logistics problem."
"It does." I turn back to Lorcan. "Which is why I'm formally inviting you into this arrangement. Permanently."
Lorcan opens his mouth, his face already forming refusal. "Giovanni, I appreciate the offer, but?—"
I cut him off.
"This isn't a favor to you, Ó Fearghail."
His mouth snaps shut.
"This is my gift to Emmaleen." I look at her, still wearing my collar, still standing in Lorcan's borrowed henley. "She's endured five weeks of Jino's brutal training. Position drills. Denial. Punishment. Demerits for breathing wrong." I pause. "She's earned something I can't give her."
Emmaleen's eyes widen slightly.
"Romance. Softness. Worship disguised as discipline." I meet Lorcan's gaze. "She earned your chapel. Your prayers. Your gentle hands putting her to bed instead of leaving her broken on a basement floor."
Lorcan goes very still.
"Here's how this works," I continue. "Emmaleen lives with Jino and me at the new Providence estate. Daily training sessions with Jino. Nightly consequences from me." I gesture toward Lorcan. "And scheduled visits to your Boston warehouse as her reward for perfect submission."
