CHAPTER 13 #2
Then we brought in six of our top men—trusted, lethal, and loyal. Two outside. Two stationed at the back door. The remaining two rotated inside. They knew the stakes. None of them asked questions.
We spent the rest of the time preparing for the night. Orion, Kai, and I mapped out Ma Molly’s estate down to the last detail, studying patrol routes, security feeds, and guard shifts. We stocked up on gear, weapons, comms—anything we could use.
The plan was simple: breach the perimeter, scale the eastern wall where the security cameras have blind spots, take out the guards silently, and extract her before anyone knows we’re there.
No firefights, no mess—just precision. And if anything else is to happen, then the assignment is to kill that motherfucker.
With our plan airtight, we had five, maybe six hours until sunset. And we did want to spend them with the kids. They were awake by then, wide-eyed and full of questions.
When darkness finally fell, the house was locked down, fortified beyond standard military protocol. The children had been fed and tucked into bed by then, spread across three rooms upstairs. The women rotated watch duty, and I added silent motion alerts near the bedrooms—just in case.
~
Having driven for the last four hours, Emilio drops us outside Ma Molly’s house. We move under the cover of night, our tactical black gear letting us blend into the darkness. Orion leads and Kai follows with me at the rear, my trusty blade always ready.
We reach the wall and throw grappling hooks that bite into the stone. One by one, we scale it, slipping over the top like shadows. I land silently, crouch low, and signal clear. We advance, avoiding every pool of light as we cut across manicured lawns.
Two guards round the corner. Orion takes out the first with a silenced pistol to the head. Kai handles the second, a blade sliding clean between ribs before the man even knows he’s dead. We hide the bodies in the hedges and press on.
We find the side entrance to the house, pick the lock, and slip inside. The halls are quiet, save for footsteps in the distance—from guards, I assume. We move fast, clearing rooms, making our way through the house.
All of the rooms are open, and empty. With Ma Molly gone, I wouldn’t be surprised if the house is already listed for sale.
Within the same hallway we come across a single locked door. We look at each other. I hope she’s in here. Kai picks the lock, and within seconds, it clicks. We open the door just enough to slip inside.
I see her before she even registers we’re here. Maisy. Huddled by the window, she turns, her face pale, eyes wide in terror.
“Maisy.” Orion reaches her first. “We’re getting you out.”
She shakes her head, panic flaring in her eyes. “No. Y-You can’t be here.”
As per our plan, I check for any threats in the room. Clear. Kai secures the window, his body tense, ready.
“Are you hurt?” I finally ask, stepping closer and scanning her for injuries.
“You need to leave. Now,” she says, louder than she should.
Kai edges closer. “Baby girl, we came for you.”
She backs away, her eyes darting toward the door. Her hands tremble, but there’s steel in her voice. “I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m staying with Viktor.”
“You’re staying with him, and he keeps you locked in here?” Orion growls. “Why the fuck are you lying?”
“This is where I belong now,” she says coldly, but the tremor in her voice is giving her away.
I step closer. “Sweetheart, we know you.”
Her eyes flash. “You don’t know anything. Viktor’s giving me what you never could. Power. Position. Respect.”
“You don’t mean that,” Kai snaps.
Her mask cracks, just for a moment. “He has my—” She stops herself, biting down on whatever truth she almost gave away. “I don’t love any of you. I never did.”
Orion’s face shifts, and the darkness takes over. He lunges forward, his hand snapping around her throat, pinning her to the wall. Her head hits it hard and I hear her gasp. Her nails claw at his wrist, drawing blood, but his grip doesn’t loosen.
“Orion!” I grab him and yank him back.
Kai shoves himself between them, his back to Maisy, his voice like ice. “Touch her again and I’ll break your hands.”
Maisy crumples, coughing, dragging in air. I crouch beside her, one hand steady on her shoulder. “Take it easy.”
Orion’s eyes are still wild, but Kai keeps him back.
“Viktor will know you were here,” Maisy gasps. “Go! You must—”
“Let him come,” Kai snarls.
She shakes her head, desperation in her eyes. “You don’t understand. He has my babies. Our babies.”
The words gut me. The air leaves the room.
I take her arm. “No, Maisy. We have them. They’re safe.”
“W-What?” she asks, barely audible.
“They’re at our house,” Kai says, his voice gentler now. “They got back from Chicago, and they’re with Sasha, Leila, Angelina, and Celina.”
She stares, her mind spinning. “Viktor said—”
“He lied,” Kai cuts in.
I see her calculating, the fear shifting, but not gone. “If he finds out—”
“He won’t,” I assure her. “We’re ending this tonight.”
She shakes her head. “No. The Council meeting’s nine days from now. Every crime family in America will be there. If we wait…”
I check my watch. “Four minutes before the patrol circles back.”
“I have to stay,” she says firmly. “Viktor must believe I’m loyal. It’s the only way.”
Kai steps closer. “Not happening. We’re not leaving you.”
“I can handle Viktor,” she insists.
“Like you’ve handled everything else?” Orion snaps. “I nearly killed you just now.”
“Maisy,” I urge, “we don’t have time.”
“The children—” she starts.
“Are safe,” Kai says, steady. “And they need their mother.”
“If I walk out, Viktor will hunt us all down.”
“You won’t have to walk,” Orion says, and nods to me.
I pull out the syringe and administer the ketamine. She tries to protest, but it’s too late. Her limbs go heavy. She attempts to speak but her words are slurred.
Kai catches her as she slumps, lifting her easily.
“We’ve got you,” I murmur, brushing her hair from her forehead and checking her vitals.
Orion stands over us, his rage giving way to concern.
We move. Silent. Swift. The night closes in behind us as we take her home.
ORION
I stare at my knuckles—they’re raw and reddened. These hands nearly choked the life out of Maisy. What kind of monster am I?
Viktor’s manipulations don’t absolve me.
I should have known better, should have trusted her.
Maisy would never betray our children. What’s bothering me is that I never thought I’d have such a visceral reaction to her rejection of us.
Even if there was doubt, I should never have put my hands on her. Never.
Dawn light filters through the windows, while outside, armed men, double the usual number, move along the property’s edge. We’ve left nothing to chance—not anymore. This house holds everything that’s precious to us, and I would burn the world down before letting danger cross this threshold.
Emilio drove through the night, determined to get us home before dawn. He knew the kids would be up early. He wanted us here when they opened their eyes.
For fuck’s sake, had I killed her, what would have been my excuse? Would I have told them that I let my rage override my judgment? That I failed the one person who trusted me to protect her?
Kai and Logan went to our bedroom to change, but I haven’t moved from this place.
Inside Maisy’s room, I hear rustling. After five hours of sleeping in the car, she’s awake. I should go to her, but anger still roots me to the spot. I’m not angry at her, but at myself. She shouldn’t have been so realistic . Right now, I hate her as much as I desperately love her.
Footsteps patter down the hall—small ones, quick and eager. The twins. And then the rest of them. They rush past me without a glance, pushing open the door to Maisy’s room. They played with us yesterday. It’s their mother they are after now.
“Mommy!” Their voices blend into a joyful duet.
More footsteps follow—heavier this time. Logan rounds the corner. “You look like shit,” he says to me, voice low enough that the kids won’t hear.
I don’t respond. Everyone’s grating on my nerves right now. There’s nothing I could say to excuse my actions, and yet, I believe she bears just as much blame as I do.
Kai appears behind him. “Come in, apologize, and it’ll be over.”
My jaw clenches so tight my teeth might break. The thought of surrendering when she’s the one who—no. Apologize? The bitter taste of near-betrayal floods my mouth. Something wounded inside me refuses to bend.
“I’ve taken you for many things, but never a coward,” Kai comments, brushing past me to enter the room.
Logan follows him, but not before dropping a hand on my shoulder. The touch feels like forgiveness I don’t deserve.
I edge closer to the doorway, keeping out of sight but close enough to hear.
One of the twins climbs onto the bed. “Mom! We missed you!”
“Careful,” Angelina warns, appearing from somewhere inside the room. “Your mommy needs rest.”
“I missed you too.” Maisy’s voice is hoarse, damaged. Because of me. “Come here, all of you.”
I hear the bed creak as more children pile on. My chest constricts. This is what I almost destroyed—this perfect, chaotic family.
“We were scared on the airplane,” one of the kids says, “but Sasha told us it’s tahbulance.”
“I know, sweetheart.” Maisy’s voice cracks. “But I’m sure you were brave.” There’s a pause. “Thank you so much for keeping my babies safe.” Her words are directed at Angelina and Celina.
“Always,” Celina responds. “Are you feeling okay? Kai told us what Orion did.”
Here it comes—her hatred, her disgust. All deserved.
“Yeah, forget it,” Maisy says, dismissing her own pain like it’s nothing. “I deserved that for not listening to him.”
“Well, it was stupid of him to think you’d betray your kids,” Angelina says with her characteristic bluntness. “I mean, come on. What planet does he live on?”
Kai clears his throat. “Maisy was extremely believable, and…strangely cold. I don’t know.” I can picture him shrugging. He’s trying to stand up for me, for us.
“She had to be,” Celina replies. “Would you have half-assed it if you were in her shoes?”
“You’re probably right,” Kai concedes.
“How were we supposed to know?” Logan shoots back defensively.
“Isn’t Orion coming?” Maisy’s request carries out into the hall. Asking for me.
I’m not ready to be faced with the bruises I left on her throat, but I’m no coward either. “ Viktor made me hurt the one thing that I live for ,” I growl to the empty hallway, “ and he’ll pay for that .”
I turn and push the door fully open.
Why is my heart pounding against my ribs like it’s trying to escape? Maybe it already knows it doesn’t belong to me anymore. It’s hers—has been since the moment she crashed into my life.
The room falls silent when I step inside. Six pairs of children’s eyes turn to me, their expressions ranging from curiosity to wariness. Logan and Kai exchange a look I can’t decipher. Angelina and Celina move subtly, positioning themselves between me and Maisy—ready to defend her from me.
“Daddy!!” Mila exclaims, and opens her arms.
But it’s Maisy’s gaze that pins me in place. The bruising around her throat is visible, even in the dim morning light.
“Could everyone give us a minute?” I ask. I pick up Mila, kiss her cheek, and pass her on to Celina.
“It’s breakfast time, gang,” Kai says, gathering up the twins. Logan helps herd the rest of the children.
As they file past me, Logan squeezes my shoulder again. A reminder that I’m not alone, even when I deserve to be.
Maisy’s lying in bed, wearing her robe.
“I did what I had to do to protect our children,” I say, and sit next to her on the bed.
“I did the same thing,” she responds.
“And I’d do it again if I thought you were working against us.” It’s the truth.
Her eyes narrow. “Is that supposed to scare me?”
“No,” I say evenly. “It’s just the truth.”
She takes a breath, then reaches for my hands. “Me too.”
I squeeze her hands and nod.
“So we’re good?” she asks quietly.
I pinch her chin and pull her face closer to me so I can look deep into her eyes.
“Seeing you with someone else was heart-wrenching. And I don’t say that lightly.
I never imagined it was possible to feel so much pain.
You, Maisy, you’re my weakness. Your power over me terrifies me, now more than ever. And I don’t think I can handle it.”
“It’s okay to be vulnerable, Orion.” She strokes my face, her voice and her touch soothing my soul.
“I made my choice to protect our family. You made the same choice. And both of us ended up with nightmares.” She sighs.
“The images of you three still flash through my mind. My curse, my photographic memory, won’t let me forget a single detail of what I’ve done.
Your face when I took Viktor’s side. The shock in Logan’s eyes.
Kai’s anger as he lunged at us, only to be knocked almost unconscious.
” Her voice drops, barely above a whisper.
“I’ve spent my life calculating risks, manipulating situations, using my head to stay one step ahead.
But this wasn’t a calculation. This was surrender.
” She looks at me and hesitates as her eyes gloss over.
“…There was a moment when I really thought I couldn’t do it.
When everything inside me screamed at me to give up—that there was no hope left.
But then, you asked me on the phone if I remembered what I told you when the twins were born.
I will never be able to love you as much as I will love my babies.
That moment, Orion, something shifted inside me.
And I knew—I would survive. I would win.
Not because I wasn’t afraid. But because giving up stopped being an option.
I had to think of my babies. As I said to you back then. ”
I take her hand again and kiss it. “That asshole will pay for what he’s done.”
“Not yet.” Her fingers tighten around mine. “I have a plan.” She tugs me closer until I’m lying beside her, and she places her head on my chest. “And you won’t like it one little bit.”
I press a kiss to her head. “I’m sure I won’t. But seeing you out there, alone, more powerful than all of us, even under duress, I don’t doubt you for one moment.”
She tilts her face up and smiles. “Mess with my family, you mess with me.”
I trace the edge of her jaw, checking what I’ve done, being careful to avoid the bruising. “Never again, Maisy. I swear it on my life.”
“Good.” She settles against me, her breathing evening out. “Because if you ever try it again, I’ll kill you myself.” She titters.
We lie there in silence as the household slowly comes to life around us. Outside the door, I hear the children’s chatter, the rumble of Logan’s voice as he prepares breakfast, and Celina and Angelina’s laughter as they entertain our kids.