And look where that got him.
I was fuming, but I controlled it in a steadily burning and heating simmer.
It got him killed.
By my hand.
Anyone else who dared to team up with my uncle would meet the same fate.
No shortage of drama and danger would be in my future, but I seriously hadn’t counted on a challenge likethisas I prepared to take the throne.
“If it weren’t for you,” I told her in front of all these top-ranking members of the family, “we never would’ve learned about this sabotage and theft. Not until it might’ve been too late.”
She nodded at me, like the obedient employee that she was. The label ofemployeewould fade when I considered her role with us.
She was my wife. My partner. My love. And the reason my future could still seem bright among the trouble and threat of war brewing.
As she stared back at me, calmly and patiently, I knew that she had to be aware of what else I meant. That I wouldn’t be the man I was today if I hadn’t met her.
If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t have learned to let love in. The freedom in lowering my guard even just a little to appreciate how much you could complete me.
If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t have taken on the opportunity to balance myself as my identity changes from being one of the brothers and cousins, to the leader to make the decisions and lead us all.
Elena didn’t only represent the turning point in our being aware of my uncle’s evil scheme. She was a symbol and reminder of how I could govern better with a strong woman backing me up and grounding me.
“It’s not too late,” Alexei said. “Now that we know he’s alive, we will have a team seeking him out.”
I agreed. We’d established that yesterday. “A hit has most definitely been placed on him.” If we hadn’t, others who had a bone to pick with him would’ve wanted the honors of killing him for that bomb he’d rigged at that meeting.
“We’ll be reassessing all of our contracts with allies in the region,” Maksim said. “To make sure we know who he’s trying to bring into his network.” He grunted wryly. “Or who he already might have aligned with him.”
He was no doubt talking about the Cartel issues that we’d been hearing about. I’d let him take over that task. The others would be delegated as well, thoroughly researching how far Gregori had gotten in making a secret network and alliance.
No matter what he did or planned to achieve, he wouldneverhurt my family again. He could fake his death, he could secure a lethal militant as his assistant, and he could try to have some bullshit of a second coming as he messed with us and our empire, but he wouldn’t be able to come near those I loved and hurt any of them.
I swore my life on it.
My brothers and cousins would join me in the fight against this enemy from within, from long ago.
My wife would join in the fight too, just behind the scenes and with her acuity in knowing how to navigate the financial systems.
All of us would stay united as a strong family in blood and choice.
Nothing could stop us from embracing a solid future and unbreakable legacy.
40
ELENA
Adrik concluded the meeting, and everyone headed off to begin their roles in preventing Gregori from accomplishing whatever he was planning. It had to be a significant and long-thought-out agenda. If a man could fake his death for almost two decades and slowly begin a secret regime and commitment to attacking the family he almost ended, then it couldn’t be an impulse. This was no fleeting scrimmage or minor threat.
Gregori had to mean war.
Adrik did. In retaliation, he would pull no stops in preventing his uncle from seemingly coming back from the dead to finish what he’d started.
Later, as we walked up the grand staircase to retire to our room, I couldn’t stop glancing at him. To admire his stern posture and the rigid strength he carried himself with. To witness the steady resolve in his serious expression. And to check that he wasn’t overly stressed and suffering in such a way only a leader could.He carried the weight of so many burdens, and I hoped that he would always be ready to lean on me whenever he could.
To talk to me, like he had last night.
