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“I know he’s a cocky asshole, but I don’t think he would have let something like that slip, not to a potential client. He’s not that dumb that he would tell a client where and when weapons are being brought in.”

My father has a point. “Do you think Dean is acting against The Partners?”

“No,” he says flatly.

“Did you at one point?”

He sighs. “Yes, at one point I did. But nothing came from it. I think he just cares too much about his son.”

“Must be nice,” I retort

“Don’t get that tone with me,” my father snaps back.

Tomas must feel the tension from me because he walks out of the room. “What would you do if the tables were turned?”

“If you did everything Roland did?” he contemplates the question. “You know I would put a bullet through your head without a second thought.”

“And what if it wasn’t me? What if Liam or Grayson were in that position?”

“Don’t ask me that question,” he answers with gravel in his voice.

“Because you wouldn’t do the same to them.” The words are solemn.

“Kilian,” he sighs into the phone.

“It would be nice if just once you thought of me like your son.”

“You are my son.”

“But not like them.”

“They aren’t ruthless like you. They never would have made it on this side of the business world. You were always different. Daring, a risk-taker.”

I slump into the desk chair. “Maybe if you trained them since they were young.”

“Don’t start this with me, Kilian.” His rage growing. “You knew your role since you were sixteen. You knew what you were to do.”

“Because you knew I would never have a wife and family?” I ask.

“Look at you, to everyone you are dead.”

I clench my fist around an empty glass. He is the reason I’m technically dead. “And if I wasn’t?”

“You could never settle down. You aren’t family material. Never have been and never will be.”

“That’s what I thought,” I say with disdain.

“Kilian,” he sighs into the phone again.

“I’ll do what I have to do to get those weapons from the Renzettis.”

I hang up. I know there are no words he would say to comfort me. It’s the same thing every time. I was groomed for this role. And he sees me as no one but the ruthless man he made me to take his seat at the table.

I know I am family material. I never thought I was. But three days with Bella and Aria proved it. And now I need to find a way to save them. Even if it means taking a hundred bullets from Giancarlo Renzetti.

26

KILIAN