Page 87 of A Mastery of Crows

But his eyes close.

And he doesn’t move any more.

Six months later

Ireach for the gavel, banging it on the table. “I hereby call this session of the Cosa Nostra to order.”

Alessia claps her hands, reaching for the gavel eagerly. “Mine!”

Gio lounges in his seat. “Do we have to do thiseverytime?”

I point at him before I pick up my wine. “Be honest. You much prefer these meetings to the old ones.”

Because we get to have them at home, with alcohol. And I get to sit there in nothing more than Luc’s shirt as he stands at the counter and makes us food. He glances over his bare shoulder with a smile.

This is our ritual. Every month.

New traditions.

“Bear. Pick up?” Alessia holds her arms out to Stefan. He hoists her on his way to the refrigerator.

“I’m going to miss it here.” I lean back with a sigh, looking around my apartment. So many memories.

But all good things must come to an end.

“Youlikethe new house,” Dom reminds me. “You chose it. You went to see it.”

“Four times,” Gio murmurs.

Lips press against my neck, and I lean back, closing my eyes, as he settles next to me.

Dante snags Alessia around the waist as she tries to run past him. She belly laughs as he pokes her. “Daddy!”

His eyes soften as he looks at me.

Still here.

All of us, still here. Building a new future, just the way we want.

A new generation of the Cosa Nostra.

Together.