Chapter 16
Kaz
Holding my moon grounds me.
Her presence brings breath back into my lungs, settling the chaos in my chest.
She strokes the hair back of my neck, my face buried in the crook of her own, and for a moment, the world falls away.
“So, if Kaz is the heir, we can easily clean out the Bravata—start fresh.”
Keir’s voice is too eager, already planning our return east. He knows I’ll have to go back with him. And he’s right. If this really is my birthright, then it’s not a question—I’ll claim it.
“Well, I wouldn’t say easily,” Selene’s voice is soft, grounding. “But it’s definitely doable. It’ll just take time.”
She’s not wrong. You don’t just walk into a room and declare yourself Pakhan. And I’ve only ever known how to be second in command—not the man at the top.
“We get things wrapped up here, then head back and handle the rest.”
Keir states, but this time I feel Selene tense in my arms. Barely—just for a millisecond. If I wasn’t clinging to her, I’d have missed it.
“That’s true,” her voice is thick, forced. “Then you’ll be the most powerful men on the east coast.”
Before the silence has time to stretch, Lily’s voice cuts in, sharp.
“This is all great, but we’ve got a masquerade to attend.”
Selene slips from my hold, earning a low growl from me. She turns back, that smile on her face.
Her fucking smile—it lights me up from the inside out.
“Don’t worry, big guy,” her voice is sultry, laced with tease. “I won’t be long.”
My cock jumps in my slacks, like it’s trying to chase after her.
She winks, then disappears down the hall with Lily.
“This is great news, Kaz,” Keir says behind me, but his tone doesn’t match the words.
I glance his way—his eyes are still on the hall where Selene vanished.
He’s not wrong. It is good news. Maybe the best we’ve had in years.
But we all know leaving her is going to fucking hurt.
I know it’s crazy, this connection to her. I barely know her.
But I do know that my soul recognized her instantly.
That my heart only beats for her.
That she’s imprinted on every part of me.
“That means leaving Selene, doesn’t it?” Dario’s voice is quiet, heavy with emotion.
I nod. She wouldn’t leave this place. Not with her father’s legacy to take care of.
Keir has his. I guess I have mine.
“Unfortunately.”
Keir’s voice makes both Dario, and I snap our heads toward him.
“Unfortunately?” Dario bristles. “Man, you’re the one who said all those things.”
Keir scoffs and drags a hand through his hair. “I know. Fuck, I know. I just don’t know how to handle this.”
His voice rises with each word until it’s nearly a shout.
I see it in his eyes—the war he’s waging inside himself.
“What do you mean?” Dario asks.
I stay silent. I already know. I just want to see if I’m right.
“These fucking feelings, man. I feel like I’m going insane.”
Keir gets up and starts pacing. “I’m thirty-eight and I’m feeling things I’ve never felt before. For a woman I barely fucking know.”
Yep. Nailed it.
None of us ever had girlfriends. Except Dario, briefly, back in high school.
Keir? He’s never been like this.
Me? I’ve always been fucked up. So this? This makes sense.
“It’s alright, Keir,” Dario says calmly. “It’s new for all of us.”
Keir stops pacing, looks at us both.
“You’re right. But… are we crazy?”
I let out a low, dark laugh. Dario joins in, like it’s our own private joke.
“The only crazy thing,” I mutter, “is that you fucked up.”
Dario points at me like bingo.
Keir just rolls his eyes and sighs.
“There are ways we could make this work, you know?”
Dario’s words send a flicker of hope through me.
Hope. What a fucking dangerous thing for someone like me to feel.
“Go on?” Keir’s voice shifts—there’s interest now.
“Well, what if we moved here?” Dario grins. “Lucas and Vito are running things well in Boston. We could start a sector here—shift the Bravata operations too.”
I think it over.
He’s right. It’s doable.
“That’s…” Keir sounds surprised. “Actually a good idea. Would take time, though.”
They both look to me, and I nod in agreement.
“But first…” Dario turns to Keir, voice firm. “You need to fix things with her.”
Keir nods slowly. “I will. Then we’ll settle this… and come back for our girl.”
Dario grins. “Wonderful. Let’s just hope she’s on board.”
Some of the tension in my chest eases.
I just hope it doesn’t take long.
I can’t be away from my moon for too long.
As if summoned by my thoughts, she appears at the end of the hallway.
My cock is instantly hard.
She looks like a fucking dream.
Dario lets out a low whistle. Selene smirks.
She’s in a silver dress that hugs every curve, long sleeves, no tattoos in sight. Her hair is pitch black, no white streaks, cascading in waves.
The mask matches her dress, and her lips—fuck—painted the color of fresh blood.
I’m on my feet in an instant, walking straight toward her.
“You look fucking delicious, malyshka. But I miss the ink. Your hair. Your eyes.”
My voice is thick with need.
Her eyes are usually grey. Now? Green contacts—but the heat behind them is all her.
“Why, thank you,” she murmurs, rising onto her toes to kiss my cheek.
“What about me, sweet cheeks?” Dario’s suddenly beside me, all grin.
She laughs and kisses his cheek too.
“Princess.”
Keir steps up. Her smile vanishes. But when he pulls her in close, she doesn’t resist.
“You look otherworldly,” he murmurs. “But I agree with Kaz.”
Her cheeks flush. She rises on her toes to kiss his cheek too.
“Thank you,” she breathes.
“Alright, let’s grab our masks,” Dario says, breaking the moment.
I shake off the trance and catch Lily, decked out and grinning.
I head to the counter where three black masks wait.
“How many weapons are we packing?”
“I’ve got two guns and two daggers,” Selene replies casually.
The corner of my mouth twitches.
Where she’s hiding them in that dress—I have no idea. But I love it.
I walk down the hall to gear up. Slide into my harness, two guns at my sides, one at my back. Suit jacket on.
We’re all in black. Our suits match, but the tattoos peeking out from my shirt collar? Those are all me.
When I step back out, Keir and Dario are suited up too.
“Well damn,” Selene teases. “You boys clean up nice.”
“We’re nothing compared to you, malyshka.”
She lets out a sweet laugh that goes straight to my chest.
“You’re too sweet for your own good, Kazimir.”
Hearing my full name in her voice makes me groan.
Everyone laughs as Keir offers her his arm.
“Shall we?”
She takes it with a nod.
Together, we head down to the waiting limo.
And I can’t shake the thought:
I’d burn the Bravata to the ground before I let anything, or anyone take her from me.