Page 40 of New Year with the Cartel

But my pity didn't last long. He was getting exactly what he deserved, plain and simple.

The cathedral proper was awash in sunset colors when we emerged, giving me a fuzzy feeling. Our security team had already begun integrating Rodriguez's former followers, many of whom looked relieved to be with us.

"Are you okay?" Fendwyr murmured, his hand moving to my stomach where our son continued to kick energetically.

"Yes," I smiled, covering his hand with mine. "We both are. And now we know—about our past lives, about the necklace's power, and pretty much everything else. It feels good to know."

"And also about trusting one another," he added, pulling me closer. His hot breath fanned over my face, making my skin feel flush with heat. "About choosing each other, every time."

Around us, the cathedral slowly emptied as both teams worked to secure the area. Sarah approached to report that Rodriguez was being taken into custody, but I barely heard her. The necklace hummed softly against my chest, its symbols now showing clear images of our shared past—and our shared future.

Fendwyr's Epilogue

Around 3 years later…

The indoor pool area fell silent when I entered, other parents instinctively pulling their children closer. Even after three years of legitimate business, my reputation still preceded me. Good. Some things shouldn't change.

Reyvan, barely four, gripped my hand with complete confidence. My son was a miniature version of myself—same dark hair, same commanding presence, even at his young age. The only trace of Gustall in him was a slight golden tint to his skin.

"Deep end today, Father?" He asked, already pulling me toward the water. Like me, he didn't waste time with unnecessary chatter. Smart boy, I thought.

"Not yet." My voice carried across the pool, making a nearby omega mother flinch and hurry away. "Basics first, remember?"

Gustall sat at the pool's edge, legs dangling in the water. Unlike others, he was completely at ease with my presence. Itmade sense he was. Not only was he my destined mate, but we'd also been living together for a long time. "Don't push him too hard," he cautioned, though his eyes sparkled with amusement.

I stripped off my shirt, revealing scars that made other parents whisper and move further away. Their fear amused me—they had no idea what real danger looked like, though I'd just give them a small sample of it.

"When have I ever pushed too hard?"

"Would you like the list chronologically or alphabetically?" Gustall teased.

Reyvan tugged my hand impatiently. "Father, water now."

I lifted him easily, his small body trusting completely in my strength. Like me, he preferred action to words. We entered the shallow end, and I could feel other families gravitating away from our space. Their instincts were good—I might be reformed, but I was far from harmless.

"Remember what we practiced," I instructed, positioning Reyvan's arms. My hands, capable of so much violence, now could mirror my gentleness when it was needed. "Control your breathing."

He nodded, face serious with concentration. Another trait he'd inherited from me—intensity in everything he did. Gustall often joked that we could intimidate people just by thinking too hard.

The lesson progressed well. Reyvan was a natural, just as I'd expected. My son wouldn't be weak in anything. I would make sure he wasn't.

Then it happened.

Confident in his progress, Reyvan broke away during a brief distraction—another child's splash—and struck out for deeper water. His technique was perfect, but his strength wasn't yet equal to his ambition.

I moved in an instant, my body cutting through the water with predatory grace. Gustall was already diving in from his position, but I reached our son first. My arms closed around him just as his head dipped under.

"I had him," Gustall said as he reached us, but there was no reproach in his voice.

"I know." I held Reyvan up, checking him over with an intensity that made nearby children scramble out of the pool. "You okay, pup?"

Reyvan coughed once, then grinned. "Again!"

Gustall laughed, the sound echoing off the walls. "Definitely your son."

"Well, of course he is." I shifted Reyvan to a better position, noting how the water around us had cleared entirely. No one dared come close to the former cartel boss, even one teaching his son to swim. "But this time, we do it properly."

"I want to be strong like you, Father," Reyvan declared, his small face reflecting his pure determination. It was inspiring.

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