50. Kate
Kate
The SUV hasn’t even stopped moving when my patience snaps like a cheap violin string.
Brett and Claire are still bickering, Roman is cussing through the zip ties, Vito looks like he wants to puke, and the entire car smells like stress and cheap leather.
I rub my temples.
“I swear to God,” I hiss, “I am getting a headache.”
Everyone goes silent.
Even Roman.
I keep going, steamrolling them all.
“I can’t deal with the two of you anymore,” I tell Brett and Claire. “Just figure it out and fuck already, or don’t. I’m pregnant. I’m hungry. I’m hangry. I’m tired. I’m sick of running.”
My voice cracks.
“I just want things to go back to how they were.”
That shuts EVERYONE up.
Even Roman’s breathing changes.
I turn toward him, heat flooding my voice.
“And for the record? I’m Michael’s wife, Roman. His real wife.”
His eyes widen, fury and shock mixing in a delicious cocktail.
“Yeah,” I say, chin lifting. “We married in Vegas. Maybe you knew the wedding to Krystal was fake, maybe you didn’t. But I’m calling the shots now. I’m the legal wifie and I’m carrying his child. In his absence— I give the orders as the head of this family.”
I point at Brett.
“Lock him up.”
Brett barks a laugh. “Gladly.”
“I don’t mean the normal safe room,” I snap. “I mean the deep one. The stash room. The one where Michael keeps the money, the gold, the offshore accounts, the documents. No windows. No exits. Steel door.”
Roman roars, “You wouldn’t?—”
“Oh, but I would.”
My voice is cold enough to freeze the Hudson.
“You’re not getting a fork. Or a knife. Or even a plastic spoon. Water and sugar packets. That’s it. Michael can decide what to do with you.”
Behind me, Claire whispers, “Holy shit…”
I lean back in my seat, hands protectively cupping my bump.
“Where’s Michael, anyway?” I ask Brett. “He should be here.”
Brett’s expression softens—rare and reluctantly sincere.
“Vegas,” he says. “He needs to stay there with Krystal a while. Shit’s running hot here. Too hot. If he shows his face, they’ll think he orchestrated all this.”
My throat tightens. “So when do I get to see him?”
“When we’re settled,” Brett says gently. “We’ll call him together.”
I nod, chest aching.
Brett glances at me in the mirror, eyes hardening with promise.
“No one’s touching you, Kate.”
Roman snarls in the back.
I don’t even look at him.
“I know,” I whisper. “Because now? The empire answers to me.”