"To the Ifrinn brothers," Blaise says, raising his glass. "Back where we belong."
We drink, and the whiskey burns a path down my throat. I should feel triumphant. Today marks our complete return to power. The loyalty pledge will cement our position in Boston's underworld. Every family that once turned their backs on us will kneel. And the marriage will ensure greater stability between Kean factions who accept the new regime.
"The families are arriving," Ash says, checking his phone. "Security's in place."
Flint nods. "I've got men stationed at every entrance. No one's getting in without clearance."
"And the Keans?"
"Ready for their grand appearance. They'll be brought up right before the pledge." Blaise laughs. “Mrs. Kean demanded a different dress and diamond jewelry.”
“She deserves a potato sack,” Flint says.
“How’s Keira?” Ash asks, his expression concerned. Perhaps he’s worried I feel like he did as he married Hannah. Forced into something he didn’t want. In the end, it turned out well for him and Hannah. I don’t expect that for me and Keira even if it would be nice.
“Fine, as far as I know.” The image of Keira's face when I left her bed the other night flashes through my mind. I swear there was hope mingled with wariness. Like she wished for something better but like me knew it wasn’t possible. Not with all this violence and betrayal between our families.
"You sure you want to go through with this?" Ash asks quietly, studying my face. "The marriage, I mean."
The question catches me off guard. "Why wouldn't I?"
Flint exchanges a look with Blaise. "You've been different lately. With her."
"We've noticed," Blaise adds. "You look at her like…"
"Like what?" I challenge.
"Like you used to," Ash finishes. "Before everything went to hell."
I turn away, staring at the amber liquid in my glass. "It's complicated."
"It doesn't have to be," Flint says. "If you actually care about her?—"
"She's a Kean," I snap, but the words lack conviction.
The truth is, I can imagine a future with Keira now. A future beyond revenge and power plays. Something real. But trust is a luxury I can’t afford, not when I'm certain she's still hiding something from me. Oh, sure, I believe her when she said she was off to see Brigit that first night. But there’s something elsegoing on. Maybe it’s not another man, but there’s something. I can feel it in my bones. And when that shoe drops, I’ll be glad I’ve kept my guard up instead of having my heart broken again.
"Listen," I say, meeting each of my brothers' eyes in turn. "I know what I'm doing. This marriage isn't just about Keira or the Keans. It's about our family, about securing what should have been ours all along."
"We've fought too hard to get here," I continue, straightening my shoulders. "Everything we've done, every sacrifice we've made, was to restore the Ifrinn name. To take back what's rightfully ours."
Ash nods, his expression softening. "We know, Phoenix. We're with you."
Looking at my brothers, I'm struck by how much they've endured. They should have had different lives, lives where they didn't have to become warriors before they were men. Where they didn't have to rebuild from ashes.
"You all deserve better than what we got," I say, my voice rough with emotion I rarely allow myself to show. "The lives we should have had were stolen from us. But I promise you this. What we build now will be stronger than what we lost."
Blaise refills our glasses. "To the future of the Ifrinn family.”
"To legacy," Flint adds.
"To brotherhood," Ash finishes.
I raise my glass. "To Mom and Dad, and a new beginning."
We drink together, and in that moment, I feel both the glory and the tragedy of our lives. I will lead us forward, not just to reclaim what was lost, but to build something greater.
I lead my brothers into the ballroom. Every family of consequence in Boston stands before me, dressed in their finest, watching with wary respect. Shortly, we’ll have a wedding. But first, I need to show them who is boss and how I can be as merciless as Hampton Kean.
