Page 179 of Ruthless God

More family.

Because that’s what we are now.

The world forgot us.

The Brotherhood moved on, surviving.

And yet, here we stand.

Living. Thriving.

Building something new. Something real.

Claudius hands me a glass of wine. “To new beginnings, mama.”

I smile, pushing the glass back toward him. “I can’t drink right now.”

His eyes widen, his gaze going to my stomach.

“You’re sure?”

“Yup.” I brush my lips against his. “You’re going to be a daddy again.”

Happiness fills his eyes, and I let him pull me in.

Because we won.

And no one will ever take this from us again.

Claudius

I join Moretti, Santos, Henderson, and Carter in my study, closing the door behind me. I settle into my chair, fingers steepled as I take in the four most powerful men in the world sitting before me.

“So, are you going to tell me why you’re really here?”

Santos speaks first. “My eldest son, João, is running for President of the Brotherhood.”

I arch a brow. “João Santos wants to be President of the Brotherhood? And is this a good thing?”

He dips his head. “I think it is.”

Moretti exhales, leaning back in his chair. “The kid is smart. Progressive. He thinks there’s a way to transform the Brotherhood into something… not entirely corrupt.”

I snort. “Good luck with that.”

Henderson rubs his jaw. “Adam Montgomery is backing him. If they win, things change.”

I don’t know much about Adam Montgomery, only that he briefly dated Lili Santos before Santos finally got his head on straight.

I narrow my eyes. “And what does any of this have to do with me?”

A beat of silence.

Then Carter speaks. “They want you to come back. We want you to come back.”

I still.

The words hang heavy in the air, like a loaded gun waiting to go off. I glance between them, waiting for the punchline. Waiting for the fucking joke. Because surely, this is one.

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