“Things are different now,” I mutter under my breath. Before, I didn’t know my enemies were leaving. I thought they’d alwaysbe sticking around, in the shadows, waiting for me to find happiness again before snatching it right out from under me.
Now, it’s only a matter of time before I’m free of them.
And until I am, I’m not letting Mia out of my sight.
“Recruits!” I call from the stage.
Six men walk up to me, standing at attention, their nerves palpable. A couple of them are older, but most are barely out ofboyhood—caught in this life by the harshness of the world. My Bratva will give them a place to sleep, food to eat, strength toprotect what they love.
Most of all, it will give them purpose.
I beckon the first one from the left. He walks up to me on unsteady l
