I raised a finger part way into the air. “I can help with that. I actually have access to a database that tracks them all. Dillan can be a bit on the paranoid side, especially now. And I only gave him access again to his system, I never gave him control back. It’s all good, he knows and doesn’t seem to care. Not like he knows what to do with all that anyway.” I cleared my throat like an idiot, trying to remember my point. “I, uh, can transfer that info over to the company server, which I promise only has me in the correct category for access permission. I’ve never messed with it here. Well, not completely anyway. I did do a little peeking around when I got hired. A girl has to be safe; ya know? I should probably shut up now.”

Gary was doing a horrible job at hiding his amusement. The other two just looked at me like I had two heads. 

I grimaced. “I’m fired now, aren’t I?”

“No. As I said before, we’re better off with you on our side.” Lawerence looked like he wanted to laugh but wasn’t sure if it was that kind of funny or not. 

“How is your brother, Ms. Reynolds? Is he better now? And I remember your father had a heart attack recently, yes?” Kurt was always the killjoy.

“My Dad doesn’t know much yet. We’ve been careful about what we tell him. I was sick and Randy had to work. Randy’s surgery on his leg went well. He was released from the hospital a few days ago. We had a home health aide reserved for him before then. He will go visit our Dad when he doesn’t look like he died and came back from hell. In the meantime, he seems to have finally had his wake-up call and has already started sessions with a therapist for his addiction. As for my Dad, he loves the nursing home. He’s made many great friends. Thank you for asking.”

“Good. Let us know if you need anything. And, please, if you wouldn’t mind, send us that information.”

I gave him a stupid thumbs up and high tailed it out of there. Linda and Chris were both waiting for me near my office.

“Don’t you all have work to do? I know I do.” I winked and stepped into my office. 

Home sweet home. 

Epilogue

Dillan

I exhaled before taking a swig of beer and picked the report up again. It was from the security team I had rotating around Randy. He didn’t know it, but his home health aide was a former Army Corporal, dishonorably discharged. A fellow soldier had tried to take advantage of her while she was sleeping. If only he had known that she slept with a knife under her pillow.

She had great aim, even half-asleep.

Unfortunately for her, his father was a General. He didn’t believe her claim and insisted she get some type of punishment. Her commanding officer believed her, but his hands were tied. He was at least able to keep the sentence down to a dishonorable discharge. 

Randy was in good hands. Literally. She was strong enough to lift him if he fell, and tough enough to go drill sergeant on him when needed. 

That wasn’t what bothered me though. There was an increase in tourist traffic around his apartment building. Of the Russian kind. 

Viktor had found him. 

If I was being honest with myself, I always knew this day would come. I’d been wracking my brain for months trying to come up with a solution. Outside of selling my soul to the Italians, I couldn’t think of anything else. I didn’t have the might to go against the Bratva. Not yet. In a few years… maybe. 

Keith and I were currently searching for a location for our next club, Exposure. I would need more personnel and more security. I would be doubling my own army. I wanted to better protect the family I was planning to create with Fiona. 

She was at the hospital with Katia now, holding one of her hands while she birthed twin boys. 

We were set to get married within the next month. I popped the question one week after we moved into our new house together. It sits on the beach. A private one. Where I proposed to her. She surprised me by saying she had her IUD removed the day before. The game was on now.

I just had to figure out how to better protect our family.

No matter how much I didn’t want to, it looked like the Italians were going to be my only option. But I knew what Bruno would want. 65% of my company. 

I lifted my head at the ding of the elevator, confused at who that could be. Fi was still at the hospital. BoBo had driven her there and was waiting for her. Jorge and Kent were on vacation together. And Keith should still be monitoring the fights. I was supposed to be too but couldn’t focus so I came back here.