Chapter 23 Honor Gravehart #2
My grip on my gun tightened, but I didn't interrupt him.
"You're not ruled by fear, Honor," he continued. "You're ruled by attachment — love and loyalty. That soft, foolish thing men like us pretend we don't need." He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "As long as you have people around that you love, I will always have leverage."
I didn't speak.
"So I did what any man who values control would do," Lucian went on.
"I stopped trying to break you. Instead, I guided you.
I put you on a path," he said simply. "Not to isolate you, but to build, to find your team, your brothers, and your chosen family.
I let you believe it was strength you were forming, but it was insurance.
Every bond you created became another line I could pull.
Every person you loved became another reason you'd hesitate.
You thought I was torturing you, but what I was really doing was making sure you'd never be free. "
Lucian quieted, his expression and tone softening.
"You're dangerous on your own, Honor, but surrounded by people you love, you're predictable."
His gaze locked onto mine.
"And predictable men are easy to control. So, I'll ask again," Lucian voiced evenly. "How do we move forward from this?"
The room felt smaller, and the air carried a weight my lungs struggled to hold.
"Clear the room," I barked.
Lucian nodded once, and his men filed out.
"I need Mitch and Troy brought to the mill."
Lucian's mouth curved. "Why? Isn't Earl's death enough?"
"No. It was a mistake," I answered. Earl had been good to me over the years. He didn't deserve to go out like that, but I needed Lucian to show his hand. "Revenge is an art, not a storm. Earl's death wasn't necessary. That's on me," I admitted.
"Target the hands that harm," Lucian replied, pleased. "I understand. They'll be delivered tomorrow night. In return, I want Lynx's family gone."
"Why?"
"His father came to me for a loan. Ten thousand. That's crumbs to me, but a feast to someone else. I bought the debt. Lynx's father offered his son as collateral. Do you see where this is going?"
I nodded, mentally piecing it together.
"With the debt, you had an inside man," I muttered.
"I thought Choyce might've been an option.
Then she set Chosyn up to kill Chance, so I had to pivot.
Lynx kept me informed. You trained Crown right.
He only told Lynx what he needed to know and nothing more.
I was ready to abandon the whole thing and find a new angle until Lynx brought Rakim to me.
River was Crown's weakness, and Rakim being from her past, along with Crown and River's past being connected, and—"
"I don't need to hear anymore."
"I couldn't collect fully through the son, so now they have to go."
"I'll do it."
"Excellent. I also need Talon handled soon. Whoever you have watching him should have opened a door by now. Deal with Lynx's family, then Talon. After, I'll set a meeting between Choyce and the rest of—"
"I want to be there not as Choyce's picchistore (enforcer) but as the new leader."
"Done." Lucian gestured toward the door. "I'm glad we had this talk. See yourself out."
I turned, tucking my gun as I walked.
"Honor," he called.
I glanced over my shoulder.
"I look forward to your face being the last thing I see when it's my time." Lucian grinned. "Because I can promise it'll be mine, you see, when your time comes."
"It'll be my pleasure," I replied and left.
I slid behind the wheel, pulled the door shut, and leaned my head back. Lucian's speech landed heavily because most of what he said was true. He forced my hand, pushing me to take broken boys like me and turn them into men who'd follow without question.
When you pull a man from the grave, you don't just save his life, you inherit it.
The brotherhood Wolfe, Crown, and I built was birthed from lies but built on trust, bloodshed, and trauma. Every connection was a piece of Lucian's design. I'd been walking the path he laid, blind to it and thinking I was one step closer to being free.
Anger flickered at the edges of my smirk.
Lucian had underestimated one thing. I fucking knew now.
I saw the manipulation, the calculations, and the way he anticipated every move before it was made.
I'd been his pawn, convinced I was a king.
My fists tightened as everything settled in.
Lucian thought he'd planted control, but the roots that drank from old wounds and unfinished grief weren't meant to bind… they were always meant to strangle.
My phone vibrated on the dash. I glanced down at the time, then at the name lighting up the screen.
Navy
Come home.
Now.
Me
You good?
I swiped out the thread and called her. The voicemail sounded again and again.
I went back to our messages.
Me
Omw. But let me know you're good.
Navy
I'm fine just come home. I need you.
"Fuck," I groaned.
I unblocked Choyce, then rang her phone, but all I got was the voicemail.
"Aye, something came up," I said after the beep. "I'll hit you later for us to meet."
I ended the call, tossed my phone onto the passenger seat, and pulled off, blurring the city as I raced home.