I tighten my tie and move my hand down to grasp hers, stepping to the side and spinning her around to face me. “You look beautifully somber,” I remark, taking in her vintage Chanel dress. “Thank you for working so tirelessly on the arrangements for today.”
She steps closer, her eyes dark and questioning. “Why wouldn’t I?”
“This all came about so soon after …” I pause, unsure what term to use. It wasn’t a fuck-up, as I did it intentionally, but after hearing her point of view, I can admit it might not have been the right course of action.
“Our argument,” she supplies, a hint of humor sparking in her eyes.
“Our argument,” I concede with a nod. “I haven’t properly had the chance to show you how much I love and need you. This situation has forced us to simply react, and you have by being my partner in every way.”
She smooths her fingers over my tie, tinkering with perfection. “This is what partners do, Dante. I’m committed to us, and whether you think so or not, you have shown me your love.”
“Trust me, I intend to do better in the future,” I say, cupping her cheek. “You deserve to be pampered beyond your wildest dreams.”
“And I’ll accept that,” she says, lifting onto her toes. “Once things have settled down. I know you have a lot going on right now.” Her lips press firmly against mine for a blissful second before she retreats.
Her words remind me of the looming war. “We need to be vigilant today. The threat hasn’t been exterminated, and we’ll be sitting ducks at the graveside service.”
“I trust you’ve taken every precaution available to keep us safe,” she responds, her confidence in me not misplaced.
I’ve ordered the entire Outfit to be prepared for anything at this service; plus I’ve taken the additional step of communicating with Special Agent Tate. Our relationship will never be like the one he had with Stefano, but in the spirit of securing his daughter’s safety, he was all too willing to station men in the vicinity under the guise of surveillance.
“I have,” I acknowledge with a tilt of my head. “But that doesn’t mean I want you being complacent. If anything strikes you as odd, tell me immediately.”
“Yes, sir,” she barks with a salute and a smile.
I take her hand and motion toward the bedroom door. “I actually despise that title,” I whisper, leaning my lips close to her ear as we head to the elevator. “I much prefer Boss.”
The small giggle that escapes is music to my ears on a day where not much else can bring happiness. My heart mourns for the loss of Joseph and Anna, yet it also accepts the inevitability of it all. In our line of work, death is always just one wrong move away.
The ride to the cemetery is quiet, and the amount of people gathered once we arrive is a testament to the lives they’ve touched. Many cars line the paved drive, and mourners dressed in black gather near the two coffins placed just before the freshly dug graves. My muscles are tense as I scan the crowd. The unfamiliar faces make me wary, but the familiar ones remind me that we are the ones in fucking charge here.
Ivan and Madeline approach as soon as he sees me, his expression guarded. “I don’t like this,” he states, his eyes shifting behind his square frames. “I’ve never met some of these people before.”
I pull Piper closer to my side, his paranoia seeping into the air. “Relax, bro,” I say, my tone much lighter than I feel. “Look around you.” I lean closer as he scans the crowd again. “Every familiar face you see is fucking locked and loaded beneath their fancy funeral clothes. Breathe, Ivan. She’s safe for today.” He remains tense for another few seconds as he allows my words to settle into his mind. As he begins to relax, I murmur, “Stay vigilant, but also know that you’re protected.”
Madeline might as well be a princess locked in a gilded fucking tower. Ivan is so sure they’re going to come for her that he’s forbade her from leaving his goddamn condo in the Grizzly Armor building. And while I can understand his reasoning, because I feel the same when it comes to Piper, it’s only added to my load. Dark Star is now being run by a temporary manager I was able to get through a hiring service. Of course, there’s nothing illegal about the business, but now isn’t the time to have a fucking outsider working for us.
Everyone is suspect.
The priest my mother chose to deliver the sermon steps forward and asks everyone to gather around. I lead Piper, with my brother and Madeline close behind, to the first row of chairs, assisting her into her seat before taking my own beside her at the end of the row. In the distance, my eyes catch on a lone figure leaned against a tree, and even without binoculars like he has, I know it’s Piper’s father.
His presence unexpectedly soothes me—another set of eyes dedicated to keeping the woman at my side safe. As the priest speaks of God and the afterlife, my mind drifts to the two people who really matter. It was clear in Joseph’s letter he didn’t know what, if anything, awaited him beyond, but he knew he would be with his love. And this final act grants him that.
My head bows in prayer, but my eyes remain open, my senses forever on high alert. Every twitch gets my attention as the priest’s voice drones on and on. It almost feels like
