Page 108 of Royal Deception

But… that means I’d be giving over Clary to this man. I’d be handing over our baby.

The thought of losing her punches me in the gut. Living without Clary? Having a life without her warmth, her kindness, her determination? She’s become everything to me. She’s my entire world.

My world would go on somehow if I lost the business, if I handed everything over.

But if I lost her? That would be the end for me. I wouldn’t be able to continue. She’s everything I’ve ever needed that I didn’t know I wanted. She challenges me to be a better man. She’s made me feel something real for the first time in my life.

The thought of losing her—of losing our baby—drowns out everything else.

I grip the phone so tightly my knuckles pop. My voice is steady when I finally speak. “Fine. One hour. I’ll be there.”

Aleksey chuckles, satisfied. “Good boy.”

The line goes dead.

As soon as I lower the phone, Lucky explodes.

“You’ve lost your goddamn mind!” His voice is raw with disbelief. “You’re really gonna throw everything away? For a woman?”

I turn to face him, jaw clenched. “ForClary.”

Lucky scoffs, running a hand through his hair. “This isn’t you, Rory! We’ve spent our whole lives building this empire, and now you’re just gonna hand it over to the fucking Russians? What the hell are you thinking?”

I take a slow breath, trying to keep my temper in check. “You don’t understand, Lucky. You won’t understand. Not until you’ve fallen in love with someone whose life matters more than your own.”

His expression twists in frustration. “You fucking idiot! Look what you’re saying! Being with that woman has turned you weak. You always said relationships are crap and love turns men into fools. And look at what’s happening right now. It’s proving you right! You’ve always said it, and now you’re proving it!”

I shake my head, my chest tightening. “No.” My voice is firm, unwavering. “It’s making me strong.”

Lucky stares at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“I spent my whole life thinking being in a relationship meant sacrificing who I was,” I continue, my voice rough. “Thinking that it meant I had to surrender control, and now I understand that love isn’t weakness. It’s given me the strength to walk away from this life. If it’s weak to put Clary and our baby above all of this, then I’ll be weak. A thousand times over.”

Lucky’s hands clench into fists at his sides, his jaw tight with frustration. Then he exhales sharply and shakes his head. “Fine. Give it up. Hand everything over if that’s what you really want.”

I open my mouth, but he cuts me off.

“But we’ve got an hour,” he says, voice firm. “One hour to figure out where Clary’s being held, get her back, and keep thisempire from crumbling. And I know you can do it, Rory. I know you’re capable of pulling this off.”

I shake my head. “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Clary safe.”

Lucky takes a step closer, eyes blazing. “And keeping Clary safe means having the connections and the businesses to do it. You think the Russians will just let you and Clary live happily ever after once they’ve got control? They’ll bleed this city dry, and they’ll own you. You won’t be able to protect her from shit if you don’t have the power to back it up.”

His words slam into me like a punch to the gut. I know he’s right. Giving up my power won’t just leave me defenseless. It’ll leave her defenseless. And that’s not an option.

I take a deep breath, steadying myself, and then I snap my fingers at Lucky. “Call Liam. Call Kellan. Get them both on the line now.”

Lucky nods and immediately pulls out his phone.

I turn to Connor, one of our enforcers, standing nearby like he doesn’t know what to do with himself. “Get me Seamus. Right fucking now.”

He hesitates for half a second too long. I glare at him. “Do I look like I’m in the mood to repeat myself?”

Connor jumps and rushes off to make the call.

I whip around, pointing at another guy. “Get the cars ready. We leave the second we have an address.”

He bolts like the devil himself is chasing him.