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His smile lights up, making me think about what an incredible grandfather he’d make for my and Evie's children. “For you, sweetheart.”

Evie’s eyes glisten. She blinks quickly, as if trying to hide it. He notices and smiles like he’s already made his mind up.

“She’s strong,” he says to me.

I almost tell him he can’t know that from a short meeting, but that’d make me a hypocrite. I knew it the moment she walked into my office. “She’s the strongest person I’ve ever met.”

Evie laughs under her breath, eyes on the table for a second before she looks up. “Thank you–both of you.”

He nods. “I hope you know what you’ve done for him.”

“I’m starting to,” she says, glancing at me.

My father stands. “Whatever you need, you have it. I’m not here as the man with men and guns and power. I’m here as Dom’s father. And as a man who’s glad to finally meet the woman who gave my son his heart back.”

I stand. He walks around the table and pulls me into a hug, catching me off guard. Then he leans in and murmurs against my ear. “She’s the best decision you’ve ever made.”

I nod, not trusting my voice.

“We’ll talk again,” he says, looking at Evie. “When this is over, I’d like to be in your lives. As a father-in-law. As a grandfather. Not as a Don.”

After he leaves, Evie stands. “That was… not what I expected.”

“Me neither.”

She wraps her arm around my waist and leans her head against my chest. “But I think it’s what you needed.”

She’s right. I didn’t know how badly.

“I thought I was here to beg for his help, but he heard me sound happy for the first time in my life, and it turned him into a different person.” I laugh in disbelief. “You’re magic, Keepsake.”

She laughs, but then grows quiet. “We shouldn’t celebrate yet.”

I swallow. “You’re right. We’ve got work to do.”

CHAPTER 24

EVIE

Ithrow my arms around Tash the moment I see her, squeezing her close to me. Talking to her on the phone and being with her aren’t the same things. She clutches me tightly.

“It’s so good to see you,” I say.

My friend and roommate beams at me. “You look different.” She lowers her voice, glancing around the bar: the staging area for the standoff with Mason. Mom’s grave is three miles from here, and soon, it’ll be sunset. Time to meet with him and end this.

“I feel different,” I admit.

“Love will do that.”

I shake my head, but Tash is looking at me in a knowing way. She sees right through my defenses. She’s been through something similar with Rafe, but she’s facing it without doubt, or complication, without torturing herself by questioning every impulse and desire.

When Meatball whines from his carrier, Tash leans down and tickles him on the nose. “I haven’t forgotten about you, handsome. How’s it going?”

I set the carrier down on the bar and sit on a stool, Tash sitting beside me. Across the room, Dom, Rafe, and the other men talk in a quiet huddle, laying out their weapons on the table. We haven’t discussed the specifics of the plan yet, but every few moments, Dom glances over at me, worry etched into his handsome features.

“Is he good with this?” Task asks.

“No.”