But when I look at her, I don’t see the woman I love. I see instead the stories she told of the man whom she considered a beast: her father. It’s a look I never want to see again, especially not from the mother of my child. And I never want my child to tell the same stories of me. To think of me as a monster.
Because I refuse to be that. Maybe I was once. But not anymore.
Annie’s father destroyed everything that should’ve been held sacred: family, his own flesh and blood. Maybe that’s why my father showed mercy. He wanted to hold onto his humanity. All those times I thought of him as weak, he was actually being strong. He was fighting back against the darkness, fighting to keep himself from becoming what he hated most.
I turn back to Gino. His face is blank and his pupils dilated. He probably can’t even comprehend exactly what is going on. The strike of Annie’s pipe back in the warehouse did a serious number on his mind. But there’s enough of him left to know what’s about to happen.
This is the end of him.
Or is it?
I take a deep breath and pull the gun away from Gino’s head, tucking it into the waistband of my pants. “Contrary to what you think of my father and me, we aren’t weak. We just aren’t the soulless monsters that you are.”
A soul.
“What you waiting for Lavrin?” Gino grumbles.
“I’m not going to kill you,” I say.
Eitan wheels forward so he’s at my side. “Nikita, what are you thinking? He’s a danger to us all. He’ll try again. You know this.”
I nod. “He will, I’m sure. But he’ll try with everyone. And if he does ... we’ll be ready.”
Gino’s eyes narrow and his lip curls up.
I kick his legs. “I’m not going to shoot you, but I’m banishing you from the city. If you ever step foot here again, you’ll die. The families that patrol the city will kill you.”
I turn to one of my soldiers, waiting at the door. “Untie him.” The man hurries to do as I said.
When he’s freed, Gino staggers to his feet and steps into my space. Everyone in the room immediately raises a gun at him, but I wave them off. He’s no threat to me now.
“You think I’m going to run like a chicken with its head cut off, Lavrin?”
“If you know what’s good for you ... yes.”
I take one last look at his ruined face. He’s here, in front of me, completely at my mercy—the man who tried to take everything from me.
And then ... I forgive him.
I pivot and walk over to Annie. Grabbing her hand in mine, I guide her towards the exit. Before I leave, I pause and look at the soldier standing guard.
“Escort Gino outside the city limits,” I say to them. “And spread the word: if anyone ever sees him here again ... kill him.”
The men grab Gino under the arms and drag him from the room. I’m not sure if he’ll make it that far. While I can control my men, I can’t control the other families who have put a price on his head. With Gino gone, I return my attention to Annie.
She smiles at me and my heart warms. Gone is the look of fear from her face. All I see is love. For me. I pick her up, turning in circles. She is beautiful and she’s chosen to be mine.
A part of me is sad for my father not being here. He would’ve loved Annie and I regret they will never get to meet, that my child will never get to meet his or her grandfather. Plus, I want him to see the man I’ve become since meeting Annie. And the man I will become once my child is here. I hope I’ll be just like him. Ruthlessness and violence will not enter my home. It will be a place of love and safety.
And if I falter, I know Annie will set me back on the right path. That she’ll stick by my side and guide me back toward the right path. I pull her down and kiss her once more. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of the taste of her lips.
It’s been a journey, a hard one. But in the end I’m king of the city once again. And this time, I’ll rule differently. This time, I intend to be a king that’s loved, not feared. This time, I intend to do it the right way.
The Lavrin way.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Annie
Months have passed and everything has gotten better. Wendy and Jenna finally met Nikita, and learned the truth about what happened. They weren’t thrilled at first. In fact, they gave him major attitude for weeks. And I had to spend those weeks playing referee to keep the peace. Nikita understood and dealt with their wrath. More so because my mother was in their corner as well.
But everyone finally got past their emotions and moved forward for me and the baby. Well, not completely, as Jenna and Wendy then began arguing over which one of them would be the baby’s godmother. I still haven’t made that decision. How can I choose between my two best friends?
“Did you get lost in there?”
I giggle. “I’m fine. Hold your horses. I’ll be out in a bit.”
Moving in with Nikita is one of the best decisions I’ve made. Of course, the gigantic walk-in closet helped. Jenna and Wendy asked if they could move in, too, and then followed up by asking Nikita if he had any brothers he’d like to introduce them to. Nikita just shook his head, laughed, and walked out the room.
“Just making sure you and the baby are fine.”
I roll my eyes. While Nikita is very sweet—and calmer than when I first met him—he’s taken to hovering and being a tad overprotective, which tends to grate on my nerves especially
