Page 90 of Shackled

I nod, wrapping an arm around her protectively. “The clean-up crew is coming. Any special requests for the body?”

She casts one last lingering glance at her brother’s lifeless form. “Make sure he is buried. My mother would want that.”

We head towards the exit, stepping over the remnants of the battle. In the end, he was just flesh and bone, no longer holding any power over her—or anyone.

And as we step into the night, I know we’ve crossed a line there’s no coming back from. But together, we’ll face whatever comes next.

As we approach the exit, my phone rings. Viktor.

"Everything secure?" I ask him.

"All clear, Lev. No signs of any more threats."

I blow out a breath. My wife was right. They destroyed themselves internally first. We only dealt the final blow.

Still, tonight’s meeting should be interesting.

We step out into the dark of late night, a convoy of black SUVs waiting, engines idling.

Good. It’s about damn time somebody else recognizes my wife is royalty.

I help Isabella into the nearest vehicle, sliding in beside her.

The ride back to our house is silent, each of us lost in our thoughts. Isabella leans her head against my shoulder, and I can feel the tension slowly leaving her body. I check to see if she’s still awake. Barely, but she’s holding her own. She’s strong, but even the strongest need a moment to breathe.

As we pull up to our house, the moon is beginning to rise. Our men quickly secure the perimeter, and we make our way inside. On instinct, I check to see if we’re safe, but no one’s followed us.

There’s no one left who would.

Once inside, I lead Isabella to our room. She sits on the edge of the bed, her eyes distant. I kneel in front of her, taking her hands in mine.

“You did great, Isabella,” I say softly. “You did great.”

She nods, a small, tired smile playing on her lips. “We’re not done yet, Lev. Tonight, we must face them. But for now…” Her voice trails off. “I just need a moment. A little rest.”

I brush a strand of hair from her face and kiss her forehead. “Rest. I’ll be right here.”

She lies back on the bed, and I sit beside her, watching as her breathing evens out and she drifts into a much-needed nap. I stay vigilant, my mind already strategizing for the evening meeting. I have Aria send us a list of all men loyal to the LSD.

An hour later, Isabella stirs. She sits up, looking more determined than ever. “Is it time?”

“It’s time, beautiful. Hungry? Thirsty?”

“Mmm.”

“Let me.”

I make her some buttered toast and a cup of hot tea, two of her favorites.

We prepare ourselves for the meeting. She sets us up in the office and starts the video conference call. We patch Mikhail and Aleks in as well.

The atmosphere is charged with anticipation. The members of the Los Sangre Dorada Cartel stare in silence.

Isabella takes a deep breath and steps forward. “As of today, everything changes,” she announces. “We are no longer bound by the old ways. Under my leadership, we will rise stronger. Those who wish to continue under my leadership may present their case to me. I will determine who will and who will not continue with me after a series of interviews and tests.”

Oh. Smooth move. She will only take men she determines are loyal.

I stand beside her, my presence reinforcing her words. Together, we lay out a vision for the future where loyalty and strength will lead us to unprecedented power.

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