Chapter Eleven: The Killing Floor
Lian didn’t confront Kael immediately.
She waited.
She watched him with Mikhail. How gentle he was. How careful.
She watched him with the nurses. Polite. Distant.
She watched him alone in the chapel, head bowed, not praying but thinking.
That night, she walked into Mikhail’s room.
Kael was asleep in the chair beside the bed.
His face was soft in sleep. Younger. Less guarded.
She woke him.
“We need to talk.”
He blinked awake instantly. Old habit.
“What’s wrong?”
“Dante called me. Before they took him.”
Kael’s face went still.
“What did he say?”
“He said you didn’t take Mikhail just to protect him. He said you wanted a son. And I was just the incubator.”
Kael was quiet.
“Is it true?”
“Partially.”
Lian stepped back.
“Partially?”
“I wanted Mikhail. Yes. I wanted a son. But I also wanted to protect him. Those things aren’t mutually exclusive.”
“But you could have come back for me. After Dante was gone. You could have told me the truth.”
Kael stood up.
“Yes. I could have.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Kael looked at Mikhail. At his sleeping face.
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Of you. Of what you would say. Of the look on your face when you realized what I’d done.” He turned to her. “I was a coward. I am a coward. I took the easy way out. I told myself you were better off without me. But the truth is, I was better off without your anger.”
Lian stared at him.
“At least you’re honest now.”
“I’m trying.”
“Trying isn’t the same as doing.”
“No. But it’s a start.”
Lian looked at the window.
The city lights blinked below.
“Kael. I can’t forgive you. Not yet. Maybe not ever. But I won’t take Mikhail away from you. He loves you. And you’re a good father. That’s more than I ever had.”
Kael’s throat moved.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. Just be better.”
She walked to the door.
“Lian.”
She stopped.
“Dante is going away for a long time. The feds have everything. He won’t hurt anyone again.”
“Good.”
“And I’m going to sell the business. The legitimate parts. The rest, I’m burning.”
Lian turned.
“Why?”
“Because Mikhail asked me to. This morning. He said he wants a dad who comes to school plays. Not a dad who cleans guns in stairwells.”
Lian almost smiled.
“He’s smart.”
“He gets it from you.”
She left.
But she left the door open.
