Chapter 221: Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty-one

Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty-one

Malachi’s POV

"Said he wanted to get to Alicia. Wanted my help. Said he’d make it worth my while."

"And you agreed?" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"I pretended to agree. I met with him. Gained his trust. Found out what he was planning."

"Which was?"

"Kidnapping Lia. Holding her for ransom. Using her to get money from both families and to punish Alicia for leaving him. For choosing you over him."

My hands clenched into fists. "And you didn’t think to tell me this?"

"I was going to. Tonight. I was getting final confirmation of his plans so we could stop him permanently."

"You wired him fifty thousand dollars."

"To make him think I was serious. To gain his trust. The money went to an account Maurice controls. Robert doesn’t actually have access to it."

I looked at Robert. "Is this true?"

Robert’s face twisted with rage. "He’s lying. He said he’d help me. He promised—"

"Shut up," Travis said. "Malachi, I know how this looks. I know you have no reason to trust me. But I swear I was trying to protect Alicia. Protect Lia. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, but I’m trying to be better. This is me being better."

Alessandro’s phone buzzed. He checked it, then showed me the screen.

A message from Maurice: "Confirmed. Account Travis set up is under my control. Robert has no access. Travis called me two weeks ago about the setup."

I looked at my brother. At the man who’d caused so much pain. Who’d hurt Alicia in ways I could never fully forgive.

But who was standing here now, claiming he’d been trying to protect her.

"Why didn’t you tell me from the beginning?"

"Because I needed to do this myself. Needed to prove I could protect her even though I’m the one who hurt her most. Needed to show you that I’m serious about being better."

"By lying to me? By sneaking around behind my back?"

"By handling the threat so you didn’t have to. By being the brother you needed instead of the brother I’ve always been."

Robert lunged suddenly, going for something in his jacket. Alessandro moved faster, had him on the ground in seconds, a gun pressed to his back.

"Don’t move," Alessandro said calmly.

Travis held up his hands. "I’m not armed. I’m not a threat. I’m just trying to help."

Marco appeared in the doorway, his own weapon drawn. "We good?"

"We’re good. Take Robert into custody. Make sure he doesn’t escape again."

They hauled Robert out of the room, still struggling, still cursing.

Then it was just Travis and me.

"You should have told me," I said.

"I know. I’m sorry. But I needed to handle this myself. Needed to prove I could."

"You don’t have anything to prove to me."

"I have everything to prove to you. To Alicia. To myself." He sat back down on the bed, looking exhausted. "I hurt her, Malachi. For years I hurt her and I can never take that back. But I can make sure no one else hurts her. Including her own father."

"Emily doesn’t know about this."

"I didn’t want to worry her. Didn’t want her to think I was slipping back into old patterns."

"You need to tell her. Tonight. Before she hears it from someone else."

"I will." He looked at me directly. "Are we okay? Can you forgive me for keeping this from you?"

I thought about it. About trust and betrayal and second chances.

"We’re okay. But Travis? Next time you’re protecting my family, you tell me. We work together. That’s what brothers do."

"Deal."

We drove back to the villa in silence. When we arrived, Alicia was waiting at the door, Lia asleep in her arms.

"Is it done?" she asked.

"It’s done. Robert’s in custody. He won’t bother you again."

"And Travis?"

"Was trying to protect you. In his own misguided way."

She looked past me to where Travis was getting out of the car. "Travis."

"Alicia. I’m sorry. For everything. But especially for scaring you tonight."

"You were helping?"

"I was trying to. I know I have no right to protect you after everything I did, but I couldn’t let your father hurt you or Lia. I just couldn’t."

She was quiet for a long moment. Then she shifted Lia slightly and said, "Thank you. For protecting us. Even when you didn’t have to."

"I’ll always protect you. Even from a distance. Even when you don’t need it. You’re family."

"We’re family," she corrected gently. "All of us. Complicated and messy and family."

Travis nodded, his eyes suspiciously wet. "I should go. Call Emily. Explain everything."

After he left, Alicia turned to me. "Do you believe him? That he was really trying to help?"

"Maurice confirmed it. The money. The account. All of it. He was telling the truth."

"People really can change."

"Some people. When they want it badly enough."

We went inside. Put Lia to bed. Collapsed on the couch together, exhausted from the adrenaline and fear and relief.

"My father’s really gone this time?" Alicia asked.

"Marco’s handling it personally. Robert won’t escape again. And even if he tried, he knows what happens if he threatens you. He won’t risk it."

"So it’s over. Really over."

"It’s over."

She leaned into me, her head on my chest, her breathing gradually slowing as the tension left her body.

"I love you," she said sleepily.

"I love you too."

"And I’m glad Travis is trying to be better."

"Me too."

"Even if his methods are questionable."

"Especially because his methods are questionable. Means he’s still a Blackwood. Just a better version."

She laughed softly. "We’re all better versions. That’s what matters."

"That’s what matters," I agreed.

And holding her there, knowing our daughter was safe upstairs, knowing Robert could never threaten them again, I felt something I hadn’t felt in days.

Peace.

Complete, overwhelming peace.

The kind that only came from protecting what mattered most. What was precious.

Family.

Always family.