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I laugh before talking over my chuckles. “I don’t doubt it.”
I pull into hug her again. I need to get everyone in.
After today, our lives will change one way or another.
* * *
An hour later…
Oliver enters my home office, where I am reviewing my father’s books.
“I haven’t seen you all morning,” I greet when he plonks into the seat across from me.
“I was helping Angus iron out the details for the meet.” He balances his ankle on the opposite knee. “Are you sure about this, Viktor?”
“It needs to be done. Bobby and those men aren’t exactly going away. They’re our brothers, after all.”
“Do you think they will fall in line?” he asks.
I twist my lips. “They won’t have a choice. I’m not saying we need to exterminate them, but they will fall in line.”
“My concern is Bobby. You know he’s always wanted the throne for himself, even if he hasn’t said it aloud. He thinks he has a valid claim because he is our father’s cousin and an original member of the clan.”
My ticking jaw is heard in my reply. “I know. Have you heard where Junior is? He wasn’t at the warehouse when I got there.”
Oliver shakes his head. “I imagine he was hiding with his father. Maybe he thinks we don’t know he was at the warehouse?”
“I don’t trust him. Ava told me some things he said.” My teeth crash together when I recall her words.
“I’ll have Marco and his men scout. What will you do with Marco and his men?”
“We will give them the opportunity to be sworn into the Clan. Those who don’t want to will be offered jobs at Manarch Industries.”
“Have you given any more thought to what you want?” Oliver sounds uneasy.
“I want to bring the Clan into this decade. Things have to change if we want to survive.” His eyes shoot up to mine, “But I still want to take a step back and let you run the day-to-day.” He is uncertain. “I want a more active role at Manarch Industries. Aisling and Niko deserve a better life than we had.”
“I was thinking the same thing, but I don’t know if I’m ready to run the Clan.”
“You won’t be alone, Oliver,” I assure him. “We will discuss all major decisions together, as we always have.”
“Dadda.” Aisling runs into the office with Ava trailing after her, carrying Niko.
“Hi, princess.” I stand from my desk and greet her. “Did you have fun with Nana?”
She nods.
“Someone was extremely excited to see you,” Ava says, reaching me.
“Hi, big boy.” I ruffle Nikolai’s hair.
The shield I’ve worn around my heart for years cracks a little when he coos, “Dadda.”
“Anita is in the kitchen, ordering the chef around.” Ava laughs before she realizes we have company. “Hi, Oliver. I didn’t know you were here.”
“Just got here.” He greets both kids in a similar manner to me.
“We should leave in an hour. Oliver, get everything ready.”
