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He is who he is. He insists he won’t change. But the real question is—can I live with his world? Can I handle it?

30

NICOLAS

She hasn’t come back to me.

I sit back in my leather chair, observing the men gathered around the long, polished table. The weight of the discussion at hand is clear, but my thoughts keep drifting back to Aria.

It’s been nearly a month, and she hasn’t returned.

When I first heard about the assault attempt on her, the man responsible didn’t live to see another morning. I have no mercy for rapists, for scum like him. It’s why I had Teresa go to her the next morning, to deliver the message I couldn’t.

I can imagine how the conversation went.

Did you kill him?

Yes.

Did you feel bad about it?

No. Not at all.

So, I stayed in my mansion, waiting for her to leave the dangers of the outside world and return to my protection. But she never did.

I glance around the room again, noting the tension in my men. They shift in their seats, exchanging quick glances, waiting for me to speak.

James stands on my left, arms crossed over his chest. He’s come a long way since Ken’s death. James was just another soldier a month ago, following orders without question. Now, he carries himself with quiet confidence. There’s a fresh scar on his jaw, a reminder of the last job we ran together, but I see no fear in his eyes. He’s become the man I always knew he could be.

Matteo sits beside me, waiting for my words.

I clear my throat, drawing their attention. “We have a few matters to settle.” My voice echoes through the large room. “First, the shipments from Greece will arrive at the north docks next week. I want no mistakes. Devin, assign guards who can keep their mouths shut.”

Devin nods, scribbling a note on a small pad, his forehead furrowed in concentration. Another man straightens in his seat, pride flashing in his eyes, eager for a task. But the fact that I still don’t know his name tells me he’s not ready.

I continue, focusing on the next point. “Our deal with the De Luca family stands, but I won’t tolerate any of their runners on our turf without my approval. Make it clear: they stay in their lane and don’t sell products similar to ours.”

James raises his hand and I nod. He speaks up. “I’ll coordinate with their lieutenant. We’ll define the boundary lines. No unannounced visits.”

I notice a flicker of respect in some of the men’s eyes when they glance at him, but the fact that even Matteo looks impressed is encouraging.

I shift my attention to an older man seated at the far end. He’s still new and a little uneasy in my presence, but I know his name is Cross, and he’s been handling the records well. “Report on the finances,” I say.

He clears his throat and begins detailing profits, payouts, and the usual taxes we impose on smaller territories. My patience starts to wane as he drones on, but I let him finish. The moment he closes his ledger, I sit up straighter.

“Good,” I say. “Keep up with the collections and make sure nobody tries to skim off the top. If you need more manpower, don’t hesitate to ask.” My gaze sweeps the table. “No excuses.”

They all nod in agreement. My mind shifts to the next issue when the door suddenly swings open.

I tense, half-expecting bad news. Then I see a flash of dark hair. No, it can’t be. But there she is. Aria steps into the room.

I blink several times, hoping to clear the fog from my vision. No matter how often I close and open my eyes, she still stands there. She’s here.

She glances around, her eyes meeting every set of them. A wry smile touches her lips as she lifts a hand in greeting. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to arrest anyone. And the cops are definitely not parked outside.”

A stunned silence falls over the room. The men stare at her, some with raised eyebrows, others shifting uncomfortably. James looks at me, unsure whether he should speak, but Matteo is the only one who seems close to breaking into a smile.

He’s the only one here who’s almost used to our banter.