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“I never thought I’d see the day you’d openly acknowledge we share the same father, but you don’t want to control everything.”
“First, I’ve never denied you as my brother, asshole. And second, people change.”
“You mean Ava changed you.” I go to punch him, but he weaves, and I miss my mark.
“You’re ready, and you can do this. Once we deal with the Irish, Bobby, and Junior, we can move forward. It will be a new reign for the Manarch Clan.”
We leave the bedroom and head to the living room.
“I don’t know.” He is still wary. I can hear it in his voice.
“I’ll be right beside you.”
“Took you long enough. Oliver, you were supposed to rush him,” Ava remarks as we come into view.
“He was doing his hair.” When Oliver laughs, I try to punch him again. I once again fail.
“Dadda,” Aisling calls, running to me. There’s no slowing her down.
“Hi, princess. You look beautiful.” I scoop her into my arms and kiss the top of her head.
“We’re late. We need to go,” Ava picks up Niko.
“Don’t get jealous,” I tease.
She rolls her eyes, but I see the jealousy in her eyes. “Let’s go.”
Outside, four SUVs, flanked by sixteen men, are waiting for us. Beiste and Angus are among them. Angus and Oliver get in the front seats of our SUV. Ava and I sit in the back with the kids.
Aisling and Niko show firsthand how resilient kids can be. Despite how the last few months have played out, they remain happy and untouched by the darkness of our world.
“What are you staring at?” Ava asks, looking at me suspiciously.
“At my beautiful wife, who is the most amazing mother any child could have.”
“Why, thank you. You aren’t too bad of a Dad either.” She winks at me.
“All of this will be over soon, and we will have normal lives.”
Her smile is brighter than the sun. “I don’t doubt it for a second.”
Aisling and Niko vie for our attention for the rest of the drive. Their giggles and laughter take over the car, but I’m distracted. I find myself recalling my last conversation with my father.
“It’s not about whether you will kill me like I did my father. It is a matter of when. You will never be capable of running this Clan like it’s meant to be run. You’re too soft, Viktor… You don’t have what it takes...”
I stare at Niko. He will never know such cruelty. I will never treat him the way my father treated me. I’ll be a better father. He will have choices and can be whoever he wants to be. If he doesn’t want this life, I will let him walk away. I think that is why Manarch Industries is so important to me. I want Niko to have what I didn’t. He will get love from me, not intimidation.
ChapterThirty-Seven
Ava
At the funeral home, I stand beside Anita, giving her all my support. Despite Dougal’s cruelty, he was still her husband. I can’t imagine the pain she must be feeling, but at the same time, I see the relief on her face. It’s like she’s finally been liberated from the life Dougal gave her.
“Why don’t we take a break? Get you something to eat,” I suggest.
“It’s okay. I’m fine.”
“I know you are, but you still need to take care of yourself. We need you.”
