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Leo leans forward, appearing intrigued. “Poison?”

I nod. “The goal is to be discreet. Due to his position, we don’t want any witnesses. I’ll ensure this ends up in his drink, and no one will be the wiser. It’ll look like he’s having a massive heart attack when he’s actually burning from the inside out. Slowly and very painfully. Until eventually, death claims him.”

“Clever,” Vin muses.

“Seems simple,” Leo notes, scratching his chin. “I assumed you’d want to drag out his death. Keep him for at least a few days in the warehouse until he succumbs to his injuries.”

“I did.” I lower my gaze. “But Clara and Charlotte are my priorities, and at the end of all of this, I just want to get home to them. That’s all that matters to me.” Leo nods in understanding, and then I shift my attention to Eli. “While we’re off the property, I want the estate on full lockdown at sunset. No one leaves, and no one comes in until we’re back.”

“Understood.” He rolls his neck, then meets my gaze. “There’s no bloody chance in hell any man or woman is stepping foot on the estate. I’ll have men posted at every entrance and patrols running around the clock.”

“Good.” I lift my glass and stare at the liquid as my heart thumps wildly with adrenaline.

“Do you think the Vasilievs will be there?” Leo asks, glancing between all of us.

I shake my head. “Garrett would be dumb to invite them to such a public event, associating himself with them.” I shrug. “But I suppose it’s possible.”

“We’ll be ready if they are.” Vin stands and clasps my shoulder. “I’ve got your back, brother.” His words land with full impact. “We all do.” He eyes us all. “Charlotte is one of us now. And we won’t let anything happen to her. Garrett messed with the wrong family, and he will soon find out what happens to those who cross us.”

I swallow down the lump of emotions in my throat. “I appreciate it.”

Vin raises his glass. “To family.”

“To family,” we say in unison, raising our glasses before draining the whiskey, welcoming the familiar burn.

“So…” Leo arches an amused brow. “Can you finally admit you have a little thing for your nanny?”

Mauro grins, leaning back in his seat while placing his empty glass on the desk.

I shake my head. “No, because I don’t have a little thing for my nanny.” I turn toward the window, staring across the estate at my house, which holds everything inside that matters to me. “I’m in love with her, and I have been since the day I laid eyes on her.” I adjust my glasses as I turn to face my brothers and Eli. “I don’t deserve her, but I’m keeping her.” I slip my hand inside my pocket, my fingers curling into a tight fist. “And before Garrett dies, I want to make sure he knows one thing.” I hold the vial up to the light, studying the dark liquid inside. “Charlotte is mine. In heart, body, and soul. And I will spend every day until I die giving her everything he never could.”

Love. Happiness. Freedom.

I’ll make it my life’s mission to ensure she never goes without those three things again.

The door bangs against the wall as Samuel rushes into the office, chest heaving, his wide eyes landing on Vin. “You need to see this.” He presses a button on the bookcase, and a TV rises in front of the books and framed family photos.

Vin lowers himself into his chair. “What the hell is—”

His words die as Samuel turns on the news. A female reporter stands a good distance from Niagara Falls, with a clear crime scene behind her.

“Breaking news,” the reporter begins. “The body of Dario Longo was discovered early this morning in the water by a couple taking engagement photos.” A photo of the male victim appears on the screen. “All we know at this time is that rats were taped to the body.” She arches a brow. “Could this be gang-related? Or an isolated incident? Nothing has been confirmed yet, but we’ll keep you posted as the story develops.”

I look at Vin. His posture is frozen, his gaze lethal.

“Vin,” I begin. “Do you know him?”

“He’s a guard at the Vasiliev Tower,” Leo says, brows furrowed. “I remember him.” He glances from the screen to Vin. “The short, bulky one you never got along with.”

Vin’s jaw clenches as his fingers curl into a fist on his desk. He says nothing, staring at the screen as fury rolls off him.

“Vin?” I step forward. “What’s—”

His fist crashes against the top of his desk, the wood splintering down the middle. He shakes his head, disbelief crossing his features.

I glance at Mauro, who appears just as confused as I am.

“Who is Dario?” I ask.