Page 124 of Desperate Victory

“I don’t know what, neither is saying, but they are glaring at each other. A lot.”

Rising on my tip toes, I kissed him lightly. “They’ll figure it out.”

“They better,” Adam grumbled as he joined us. “He keeps scowling at her like that and I’m going to?—”

Bodhi cut him a look and Adam sighed.

“I might punch him if he deserves it.” The amendment was not what he’d planned on saying.

“Every guy who looks at your sister deserves it,” Ezra said, slinging an arm around Adam’s shoulders even as he winked at me. “That was our rule for Lainey.”

“Oh don’t start.” I took Bodhi’s hand and descended the last step. “They’ll be fine. They’re still adjusting and we just need to keep everything as normal as possible. That also means letting them have their disagreements.”

“Are you sure I can’t punch him?” Adam sounded so irritated it almost made me laugh.

“If I think he needs it,” Bodhi offered. “I’ll consider it.”

“Well, that’s better than telling you ‘no,’” Ezra teased and Adam gave him a not so gentle shove. They mock punched at each other—at least until Grandfather cleared his throat.

I hid my smile as I let go of Bodhi’s hand and greeted my grandfather with a kiss to his cheek. He gave me a fond look. Milo was already at the table and he pulled out the chair next to him. It put me to my grandfather’s right and Bodhi had the seat directly across from me, on Grandfather’s left. The guys were spread out with Andrea seated between Milo and Adam across from Levi who was sandwiched between Bodhi and Ezra.

Clearly there was a lot of scowling going on. The doorbell rang and Grandfather nodded. “Our last guest is here… excellent. I do prefer promptness.”

I hadn’t taken a seat yet so I turned as Margareta Waldemar walked in. She was dressed in an impeccable morning suit, but managed to appear casual despite the formality.

We’d spoken twice since that night in Prague. Today was the first time I’d seen her since then. Despite her declaration in the tunnels that she’d already mourned him, I suspected her son’s death for a “second” time, particularly at her own hands, had left her with more to deal with.

“Margareta,” I greeted her as I crossed to take her hands. She brushed the air next to each of my cheeks with a light kiss before she squeezed my hands. “Welcome to Der Sonne.”

“Thank you,” she said, glancing from me to Grandfather then back again. “Leopold invited me. He was rather insistent that this was a tradition I shouldn’t ignore.”

“He was right.” I offered her my arm. “Sunday brunch is always fun.”

Or it used to be.

I walked her to the other side of the table. It had a place setting and everything. It had been my grandmother’s spot. No one sat there and when I gave my grandfather a questioning look, he nodded.

After she was seated I returned to my chair. Once I took my seat, the guys all took theirs. Then my grandfather lifted his orange juice flute and we all picked up our own. “Thank you,” he said, his tone warm and his gaze sweeping over all of us. “Thank you for helping us to rekindle a tradition that we’ve not had in too long. Sunday brunches… it’s important to make time for family. To enjoy and to not play politics. To engage with each other, and to make plans for the future.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Adam said and we all toasted before taking a sip. Even Margareta looked pleased.

Once Grandfather took his seat again, he motioned for service to begin and then focused on me. “So darling girl, which one of these boys are you actually going to marry?”

Silence greeted his request and I met his gaze. Pure devilment danced in his eyes. “You just want to start trouble,” I murmured and his grin warmed my heart.

We still had so much to do. So much healing to do for the kids, for Ezra, for our families. We had relationships to repair, or in this case build, as with the new siblings and my new grandmother.

So much to do.

But, now, also had the time to do it.

The Bay Ridge Royals still existed. The connections and investments were there. Rather than let it languish or worse be taken over by someone with the kind of aspirations King had, I’d stepped into the role.

With the support of my guys, we were going to make changes. Big ones. Some day, Andrea would be a Bay Ridge Royal, a legacy, and it would be a safer, more controlled environment. It would be what it once was…

“Hey,” Milo said, turning to study me. “You look very fierce.”

I grinned. “Just savoring our victory and planning for all the mayhem…”

---