Chapter 218: Chapter Two Hundred and Eighteen

Chapter Two Hundred and Eighteen 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Malachi’s POV

The security consulting business took off faster than I’d expected.

Within two months of officially launching, I had five corporate clients and a waiting list of companies wanting to hire us. Apparently there was significant demand for someone who understood both legitimate security concerns and the criminal mindset that might exploit weaknesses.

"You’re basically using everything Pa taught you but for good instead of evil," Maurice said during one of our calls. "It’s poetic in a way."

"It’s practical. These skills don’t just disappear because I walked away from the family business. Might as well use them for something productive."

"The family’s impressed. Tom especially. He’s been telling people his son built a legitimate empire out of dark skills. He’s proud of you."

"That’s unexpected."

"He’s changing too. Everyone is. You walking away showed us it was possible. Now half the family is looking for ways to go legitimate. Mario’s sons are talking about real estate development. Some of the cousins are exploring tech investments. You started something, Malachi."

After we hung up, I sat in my office thinking about that. About how choosing to be better had rippled out to affect people I’d never intended to influence. About how change was contagious once someone proved it was possible.

Lia was six months old now. Sitting up on her own. Eating solid foods. Developing a personality that was equal parts stubborn determination and infectious joy. She laughed at everything. Smiled at everyone. Made every single person who met her fall completely in love with her.

"She’s going to be dangerous when she’s older," Alicia said one evening while we watched Lia charm Alessandro into giving her bites of his dinner even though she’d already eaten. "Look at him. Completely wrapped around her finger."

"She gets that from you. The ability to make people want to give her everything."

"I never made anyone give me anything."

"You made me give you my heart without even trying. I’d say that’s pretty powerful."

She leaned into me, her head on my shoulder while we watched our daughter work her magic on her uncle. "The foundation is getting too big for me to manage alone. I need to hire an actual director. Someone with nonprofit experience who can handle the administrative side while I focus on working with the women."

"That’s good. Growth is good."

"It means giving up control. Trusting someone else with something I built."

"You’ll find the right person. Someone who shares your vision and your passion. Someone who understands why this matters."

"I already have someone in mind actually. Her name is Catherine. She ran a domestic violence shelter for fifteen years before retiring. She’s got all the experience we need and she’s passionate about the work. I’m meeting with her tomorrow."

"Then I’m sure she’ll be perfect."

My laptop pinged with an email. A potential client wanting security consulting for their executive team during an upcoming international expansion. High-profile. High-paying. Exactly the kind of work I’d been building toward.

"Big client?" Alicia asked, noticing my attention shift.

"Could be. Tech company expanding into South America. They need security protocols and risk assessment for their C-suite."

"Are you going to take it?"

"Depends on the timeline. If it means traveling extensively or being away from you and Lia for long periods, probably not. If I can do most of it remotely with occasional trips, maybe."

"You don’t have to turn down work because of us."

"I’m not turning it down because of you. I’m making choices about what kind of life I want. And that life includes being present for my daughter growing up and my wife building her foundation. Money isn’t worth missing moments."

Lia threw a piece of food on the floor. Looked at Alessandro expectantly to pick it up. He did, of course, because she had him completely under her spell.

"She’s definitely going to be trouble," I observed.

"The best kind of trouble."

That night, after Lia was asleep and we were in bed, Alicia turned to me with that expression that meant she wanted to talk about something serious.

"What?" I asked.

"I’ve been thinking about Travis’s wedding. About going back to Dark City."

"Having second thoughts?"

"No. I want to go. Want to support them. But I’m nervous about seeing everyone again. About being in that world even temporarily."

"We’ll be together. We’ll have Lia. We’ll be there for the wedding and then we’ll come home. It doesn’t have to be more complicated than that."

"What if people judge me? The woman who was married to Travis and then had an affair with his brother? That’s scandalous even in families used to scandal."

"Let them judge. We know our story. We know what we survived to get here. Anyone who wants to reduce it to scandal isn’t worth our concern."

"Easy for you to say. You’re a Blackwood. You belong there. I’m the outsider who caused problems."

I pulled her closer, made her look at me. "You’re not an outsider. You’re my wife. The mother of my child. A Moretti and a Blackwood. You belong wherever you choose to be. And if anyone at that wedding makes you feel otherwise, they’ll answer to me."

"Very protective."

"Very serious. You’re mine, Alicia. Anyone who disrespects you disrespects me. The family knows that."

"The family might think I trapped you. Got pregnant to lock you down."

"The family saw me at Christmas. Saw how happy I am. Saw Lia and saw us together. Anyone with eyes knows I chose this. That I chose you."

She was quiet for a moment, her fingers tracing patterns on my chest. "I’m being insecure. I know that. It’s just hard not to feel like an imposter sometimes. Like I’m pretending to be someone I’m not."

"Who are you pretending to be?"

"Someone worthy of all this. Of you. Of this life we’ve built. Of the respect that comes with being a Blackwood and a Moretti."

"You’re not pretending anything. You are worthy. You’ve always been worthy. The only one who doesn’t seem to know that is you."

"My therapist says the same thing."

"You’re seeing a therapist?"

"Started a few weeks ago. Figured if I’m helping women process trauma, I should probably process my own. Make sure I’m not projecting or using them to avoid dealing with my own issues."

"That’s smart. Healthy."

"She’s helping. Making me see patterns I didn’t recognize before. Like how I always expect people to leave or hurt me because that’s what everyone in my life did before you."

"I’m not leaving. Not ever. You know that, right?"

"Logically yes. Emotionally I’m still working on believing it."

"Then I’ll keep proving it. Every day. For the rest of our lives. However long it takes for you to really believe it."

She kissed me then, soft and sweet and full of the trust she was learning to give me. When she pulled back, her eyes were wet.

"I love you. Even when I’m insecure and irrational. Even when I’m scared. I love you."

"I love you too. Even when you’re being ridiculous about being worthy. Even when you can’t see what I see when I look at you. I love you."

Lia made a sound through the monitor. Not quite a cry but close. We both froze, waiting to see if she’d settle or wake up fully.

After a tense moment, silence. She’d gone back to sleep.

"We should sleep while she sleeps," Alicia whispered.

"We should."

But we didn’t. We lay there holding each other, talking quietly about the wedding and the foundation and Lia’s latest developments.

"She’s almost sitting up completely on her own," Alicia said. "The pediatrician said she’s ahead of schedule developmentally."

"Of course she is. She’s brilliant."

"All parents think their babies are brilliant."

"Yes, but ours actually is."

She laughed softly. "What are we going to do when she’s a teenager and actually smarter than us?"

"Pray. Pray a lot."

"She’s going to be beautiful. Smart. Determined. She’s going to break hearts."

"She’s not dating until she’s thirty."

"That’s not how it works."

"It’s how it works in my house."

"Your house? I thought this was our house."

"Our house where our daughter doesn’t date until she’s thirty."

"You’re ridiculous."

"I’m protective. There’s a difference."

"You’re going to be one of those fathers who terrifies every boy who comes near her."

"Good. They should be terrified. They should know that if they hurt her, they’ll have to answer to me."

"And to her uncles. And her grandfather. And probably her great-grandmother who’s more intimidating than all of you combined."

"Exactly. She’ll be the most protected girl in the world."

"The most loved girl in the world," Alicia corrected.

"That too."

We finally fell asleep wrapped around each other, Lia breathing softly through the monitor, our life happening all around us in quiet, ordinary ways.

The next morning, I woke up to my phone ringing. Five AM. Never a good sign.

Maurice.

"What’s wrong?" I answered immediately.

"Nothing’s wrong exactly. But there’s a situation you should know about. Robert Chen Fonelle escaped custody."

I sat up carefully, trying not to wake Alicia. "What do you mean escaped custody?"

"He was being held in California on the charges Marco filed. Somehow he got out. Bribed a guard or picked a lock or something. Point is, he’s in the wind."

"Does Marco know?"

"I called him first. He’s already mobilizing security around the estate. But Malachi, if Robert knows Alicia is in Italy, if he comes looking for her—"

"He won’t get near her. I’ll make sure of it."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Find him. Use every resource we have. I want to know where he is, where he’s going, what he’s planning. I want him found before he can become a problem."

"On it."

I hung up and found Alicia awake, looking at me with concern.

"What happened?"

I told her everything. Watched her face go pale, watched her hand instinctively go to her stomach even though Lia wasn’t there.

"He’s coming here," she said. "He knows where we are. He’s coming for money or revenge or both."

"He’s not getting near you. I promise. We’ll double security. We’ll be careful. And Maurice is already looking for him."

"What if he hurts someone? What if he goes after Sophie?"

"Sophie’s at school with Alessandro’s people watching her. She’s safe. You’re safe. Lia’s safe. Robert is one desperate man against two powerful families. He doesn’t stand a chance."