"Where are we with arranging the arrest?” I turn to Flint. "Are they ready to move on the Keans?"
Flint nods, pulling out his phone. "Just need to make the call. They've been waiting for my signal."
"Do it when the ceremony is over," I say decisively. "Have them picked up, but not here. Have our men take them somewhere discreet for the handoff."
My brothers exchange surprised glances.
"You're not going to make a spectacle of it?" Blaise asks. "I thought that was the whole point. Showing everyone what happens to those who cross us."
I straighten my jacket. "The Keans will face justice through the system. We have enough evidence to put them away for decades."
"Since when did you become so… merciful?" Flint asks, already dialing on his phone.
"Since I realized I've been given a second chance at everything that matters," I answer. "I'm not wasting it on revenge."
I step into the ballroom buzzing with conversation as Boston's elite mingle, glasses of champagne in hand, celebrating what they believe are merely my triumphant return and strategic marriage.
I scan the crowd, noting the heads of every major family in attendance. Some wear genuine smiles, others mask their unease behind polite façades. They've all pledged loyalty today, but many still question my power and authority.
I catch Blaise's eye across the room. He gives me a subtle nod, confirming that everything is ready. The music fades as I make my way to the center of the room, and a hush falls over the crowd.
"Thank you all for coming today," I begin as eyes turn to me. "Ten years ago, I loved Keira Kean with everything I had. We were young, hopeful, planning a future together despite our families' differences."
Members of the crowd look confused or surprised by this revelation. I suppose it’s partly my fault for keeping our relationship a secret.
"What many of you don't know is that our love created something beautiful. A daughter. A daughter that Hampton and Lana Kean hid from everyone after they orchestrated the murder of my parents."
Gasps ripple through the room. I see shock on many faces, some glancing at each other in disbelief.
"The tragedy that befell my family wasn't just about business or power. It was about hiding the truth." My voice hardens. "But the blame doesn't rest solely with the Keans. My own father, Patrick Ifrinn, rejected Keira when he learned of her pregnancy, creating the perfect storm for Hampton's ambition and cruelty."
I notice my brothers' startled expressions. This is news to them too, that our father played a role in the chain of events that led to his own death.
"Starting right now, I’m not after revenge. I’m reclaiming what was stolen from us. Not just our business or our standing, but our family. Our love. Our future."
I take a deep breath, noting the eyes of every major family in Boston are fixed on me, waiting to see what kind of leader I'll be.
"Today marks a new beginning for all of us," I continue, my voice steady and clear. "The Ifrinn family is reclaiming its rightful place in Boston, but we're not interested in perpetuatingcycles of violence and retribution. My brothers and I envision a city where business thrives, where families prosper, where we all benefit from stability and peace."
I scan the room, making eye contact with several family heads.
"For too long, this city has been torn apart by feuds and power grabs. Hampton Kean's leadership was marked by fear and backstabbing and murder. That ends now."
The crowd is utterly silent.
"My commitment to you is this. The Ifrinn family will lead with fairness. We'll reward loyalty and hard work. We'll create opportunities that lift all of us higher than we could reach alone."
I pause, letting my expression harden just enough.
"But make no mistake. While I choose peace today, I will defend it with everything I have. Anyone who threatens what we're building, anyone who endangers my family or this community we're creating, will face consequences swifter and more severe than anything Hampton Kean ever delivered."
My voice drops slightly but carries the weight of power I feel coursing through my veins. "The men who tried to kill me this week learned that lesson. The Keans will learn it after the wedding when they’re arrested for their crimes. I won't hesitate to teach it again if necessary."
I straighten my shoulders, softening my expression.
"But that's not the path I want for us. I'd rather we build something lasting together. Something our children can inherit without shame or fear."
The doors at the back of the ballroom open and two of my men escort Hampton and Lana Kean inside. Hampton's jaw is clenched tightly, his eyes burning with hatred. Lana looks around the room nervously, no doubt searching for sympathetic faces among the crowd.
