CHAPTER 2
MAISY
“These women have so much potential,” I say as I arrange the chairs around the massive wooden table for the day’s meeting.
Lisa nods as she places cups on the table. “Angelina especially. Did you know she’s been managing most of Uncle Colletti’s legitimate businesses behind the scenes?”
“Really?” This catches my attention. “For how long?”
“Years. But her father insists everything goes through Adam. He thinks their conversations are no place for a woman.”
I shake my head, thinking of Angelina’s husband. “That’s exactly what we need to change. Not by fighting the men, but by showing them what we can bring to the table.”
“Speaking of bringing things to the table,” Lisa says, “Celina approached me after the last meeting. She wants to train some of us in self-defense.”
“The jujitsu expert from Carte security? That’s perfect!” I pause, considering the implications. “But we’ll need to present it carefully. Some of the men may feel their masculinity’s being challenged.”
“I’ll bet,” Lisa agrees.
“As long as they know we’re trying to contribute, not take over, they should be fine.” I arrange the name cards, grouping women with complementary skills together.
Lisa picks up one of the cards. “You know what impressed me most about the first meeting? How many of these women already have skills and connections we didn’t know about. Like Gizelle running that import business through her cousins in Italy.”
“Or Georgina’s network in real estate,” I add. “We’ve been sitting on all this untapped potential.”
“Our men aren’t stupid,” Lisa points out, and starts helping me set up the coffee station. “They must know what their wives and daughters are capable of.”
“They know. But old habits die hard. Change is scary, and dangerous, especially in our world.” I check the time, then notice Lisa’s eyes are fixed on me.
“You seem calmer than last time,” she observes.
“I am. I’m glad I’m doing this.” I straighten up a crooked place setting.
“You’re a good leader. I know your men think that.”
“Oh, stop it, Lisa. You’re just gonna make me blush.” I pause, my thoughts drifting to Orion, Logan, and Kai.
Their behavior lately has been confusing. They always let me in on the intelligence about any deals or troubles the family might have, but a few times now I’ve sensed they were keeping something to themselves.
And so, instead of coming clean, they’ve started playing their own games. Each of them has played with me on their own, which is not unusual, but the way they’re doing it, I’m certain something’s off.
Orion caught up with me first, last Monday morning, while I was sorting laundry in the utility room.
“Still feeling in charge?” he asked me, his voice making me jump and drop the sheet I was folding.
“I’m always in charge of laundry,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “Unless you’d like to take over?”
He just smiled that dangerous smile of his. “Oh, I can think of better things to take over.”
What followed was definitely not about laundry. Or me being in charge in any way.
On Tuesday afternoon, it was Logan who found me in the kitchen as I was planning meals for the week.
“Making executive decisions about dinner?” he drawled, coming up behind me.
“Someone has to feed this army,” I smiled, trying to focus on my list even as his proximity sent my thoughts scattering.
“Speaking of armies…” He turned me around to face him. “How’s your recruitment going?”
That conversation ended with the grocery list forgotten on the counter.
Kai’s turn came on Wednesday. I was organizing the playroom when he appeared, leaning against the doorframe with a grin that spelled trouble.
“Playing general, even with the toys?” he teased.
I gestured at the chaos of stuffed animals and building blocks. “Everything needs structure.”
“Structure?” He chuckled and moved closer. “Is that what you need?”
Needless to say, the toys stayed unorganized.
The memories of the past week make me blush, even now as I set up the room with Lisa.
Between these encounters, we’ve had conversations about the women’s club and my intentions with it. What I am going to do with it.
However, not one conversation has been about what the three of them are doing. What the three of them are hiding from me.
“Earth to Maisy.” Lisa’s voice pulls me back to the present. “Where did you go just now?”
“Just thinking about how supportive everyone’s been,” I say diplomatically.
Her knowing smirk tells me she’s not fooled. “Uh-huh. Is that why you’re blushing?”
“Focus on the setup,” I deflect, but can’t help grinning.
The crunch of tires on gravel makes us both snap to attention. Cars are already pulling up. “Early arrivals. You ready?”
“Always.” Lisa gives the room a final scan. “What are we doing today?”
“Building trust. Getting them to open up about their skills, their ideas. If we want men to take us seriously, we need to take ourselves seriously first.”
“And Celina’s self-defense classes?”
“We’ll present it as a security measure. The more capable everyone is, the safer all our families are.”
The front door opens, and voices flood the hallway. Lisa squeezes my hand before going to greet our guests.
I take a deep breath, centering myself. Last week was about bringing these women together. This week is about showing them who we can become. Not a separate force within the families, but an integral part of making our world stronger, and more secure.
The dining room starts to fill, and I see the change already. Women who barely spoke last week are greeting each other like old friends. They’re networking, sharing ideas, building connections.
This is what I wanted. A step into a new era. One where everyone’s seen and heard.
I clear my throat, ready to begin the second meeting.
ORION
Blood and bedtime stories. That’s my life now.
I watch from the doorway as controlled chaos unfolds. Earlier today, I ordered a hit on a rival faction from Chicago. Now I’m monitoring the construction of a pillow fortress. The duality would be amusing if it wasn’t so goddamn precarious.
Maxim and Luca are the architects, their little faces serious as they stack cushions. Five and four years old, and already showing signs of the men they’ll become. Maxim plans; Luca executes. Just like their fathers.
Mila, our three-year-old hurricane, “helps” by systematically dismantling their work. She’s just like Kai in her determination. Damien toddles after them all, observing with the same quiet intensity as Logan has.
The twins, Ava and Grace, babble in their playpen. One year old and already plotting, their expressions look just like Maisy’s. I make a mental note to upgrade our security again. Six children. Seven including Mia. Seven potential targets.
Maisy sits cross-legged on the floor, simultaneously supervising and preventing Damien from eating the art supplies. She laughs, low and easy, and all I can think of is how much I love her.
“Fort looking good, boys,” Logan says, entering with bottles for the twins. His hospital ID still hangs from his pocket, emergency surgeon by day, mafia head by night. The perfect cover.
Kai sprawls on what’s left of the couch, fresh from a “boxing match” that was really an arms deal. He scoops Mila up in his arms. “Princess, let your brothers build for five minutes before destroying their work.”
“No,” she replies, a frown on her tiny face.
I check my phone: confirmation of the hit. Clean. Professional. I tuck it away as Maxim calls, “Daddy, look!”
“Very impressive,” I say, but my attention is on Maisy. She’s in her element—drawing everyone in, commanding the room without even trying.
“You’re thinking too loud,” Logan murmurs beside me.
He’s right. I’m always thinking. Planning. Seven children mean seven vulnerabilities.
“Bath time in ten,” Maisy announces.
The protests are immediate. I notice how Kai’s hand instinctively moves toward his concealed weapon at the sudden noise. We’re all still adapting to domestic life.
I move to help Maisy up, pulling her flush against me. “Are you happy?” I ask quietly.
“You know I am,” she purrs.
“Just be careful,” I murmur, brushing a kiss against her lips.
Logan steps in, wrapping his arms around Maisy’s waist from behind. “We just want you safe,” he says.
“I am safe,” she smiles. “I have you three.”
Kai appears with a twin in each arm. “You do, but these meetings of yours—”
“Are necessary,” she interrupts, “and you know it.”
She’s right. The families need to evolve. But her growing influence is making waves. Creating attention.
My phone buzzes—another business matter. Later . Right now, it’s time for bedtime stories.
The next hour follows our carefully choreographed routine. Baths supervised in shifts, toys scooped from sudsy water, stories read while little heads lean heavy against shoulders. And finally, bedtime kisses and quiet goodnights.
When all the children are finally asleep, we gather in the living room.
The house is secure, and for a moment, we’re just a normal family.
“They’re getting louder,” Maisy says, curled up against Kai. “The women. They want to be heard.”
“They want power ,” I correct.
“Is that so wrong? You three share power.”
Sitting on the other side of her, Logan runs a hand through her hair. “It’s different with us.”
She doesn’t understand that every person she brings into our circle is another potential threat. Another variable. Another weakness.
But she’s also right.
My phone buzzes again. For now, I silence it. Tonight is for family. For figuring out how to evolve without exposing our throat.