Page 58 of Kane

I pull him closer, swaying with him to the music while Viktor spins Eddie, Ivan holds Landon, and Kirill draws Teddy in. For a few precious minutes there is no war, no blood, no looming threats. Just four powerful men and the young men who make the violence worth enduring.

As the song ends, I tilt William’s chin up and kiss him deeply, not caring who sees. He melts against me, his fingers curling into my shirt. When we finally pull apart, his eyes are shining.

“I love you,” William whispers.

“I love you too,” I reply, meaning it with every dark corner of my soul. “More than you will ever know.”

Later, as the night winds down and the boys say their goodbyes with hugs and promises of another playdate soon, I stand at the window overlooking the city. Viktor joins me, glass in hand.

“We start planning tomorrow,” Viktor says quietly.

I nod. “The Mudruks won’t know what hit them.”

He claps a hand on my shoulder. “Welcome to the family, brother.”

The word settles warmly.Brother.

I look across the room at William, who is laughing with Eddie and the others. He catches my eye and blows me a kiss.

This life will never be easy. There will be more blood, more hard choices, more nights where I come home covered in someone else’s violence.

But with William waiting for me, with these men standing beside me, I finally feel ready for the rest of my life.

The Young Menace has become something greater.

A Pakhan.

A Daddy.

A man with something real to fight for.

And the city had better be ready.