Chapter Six: The Bargain
Kael was in the chapel.
Lian found him sitting in the last pew, head bowed.
She had never seen him pray.
“I thought you didn’t believe in God.”
“I don’t. But Mikhail does.”
She sat down next to him.
Not close. Just close enough.
“Dante has a forged guardianship paper. He’s threatening to go to the board about us.”
“Let him.”
“Kael—”
“He can’t take Mikhail. Not anymore. I have evidence on him. Enough to put him away for life.”
“What evidence?”
Kael turned to face her.
“Everything. His weapons deals. His connection to the shooting. The doctor he paid to fake Mikhail’s death certificate. It’s all in a safe. If anything happens to me, it goes to the feds.”
“You’ve been planning this.”
“I’ve been waiting for the right moment.”
Lian was quiet for a long moment.
“I will help you protect Mikhail. Because he’s my son. Not because of you.”
“Understood.”
“But I have conditions.”
“Name them.”
“One. You tell Mikhail the truth tonight. Everything. No more lies.”
“Done.”
“Two. You stay away from me outside of his care. I’m not your wife. I’m not your girlfriend. I’m his mother. That’s all.”
Kael’s jaw tightened.
“Done.”
“Three.” Lian looked at him. “You don’t kill Dante. You put him in prison. I don’t want my son growing up with a father who’s a murderer.”
Kael was silent.
Then he nodded.
“I’ll do it your way.”
“Then we understand each other.”
She stood up.
Kael caught her wrist.
“Lian. Thank you. For saving him. For staying.”
She pulled free.
“I saved him because it’s my job.”
“That’s not why.”
She didn’t turn around.
“No,” she said quietly. “It’s not.”
