I looked back at Isabella and Adele one more time. My family. The two people who mattered more than anything else in this world.
Which was exactly why I had to do this now. Had to end this before Selene and Ethan made another attempt. Before they got lucky, and I lost everything that mattered.
I stepped into the room quietly, pressing a kiss to Adele’s forehead. She didn’t stir, still deep in sleep. Then I moved to Isabella, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face.
Her eyes flutteredopen. “Dimitri?”
“I have to go,” I said softly. “I called for a board meeting at Ravencrest Global.”
She sat up straighter, immediately alert despite her exhaustion. “Now? What’s happening?”
“I’m ending this. Once and for all.” I cupped her face, holding her gaze. “Stay here. Don’t leave this facility for any reason. I’ve doubled security. No one gets in or out without my explicit approval.”
Understanding dawned in her eyes, followed quickly by fear. “You’re going after Selene.”
“I’m going after everyone who’s threatened our family.” I kissed her forehead. “Trust me. By the end of today, this will all be over.”
“Dimitri—”
“I love you. Both of you. That’s why I have to do this now.”
She grabbed my hand before I could pull away. “Be careful. Please.”
“Always.”
I kissed her forehead and left.
The driveback to Virginia felt longer than usual. I spent the entire time reviewing the evidence Edmund had compiled. Five years of surveillance. Five years of carefully documented conversations, financial transactions, meetings. Five years of watching Selene and Ethan weave their web, waiting for the perfect moment to spring the trap.
That moment was now.
My phone rang. It was Edmund.
“Status?” I answered.
“All board members present except Isabella, obviously. Ethan is connecting via video conference—apparently, he’s away dealing with ‘pack business’.” Edmund’s tone made it clear what he thought of that excuse. “Selene is here. She looks confident. Too confident.”
“Good. Let her be confident. Makes the fall that much harder.”
“Dimitri.” Edmund’s voice turned serious. “Are you sure about this? Once you play that recording, there’s no going back. This will destroy her. Her family’s reputation. Everything.”
“She tried to kill my daughter. Twice.” My voice was cold. “She deserves everything that’s coming to her and more.”
“Just making sure you’re ready for the fallout.”
“I’ve been ready for five years.”
I ended the call and pulled into the underground parking garage at Ravencrest Global. My building. My company. Built by my father and grandfather before him.
And Selene and Ethan thought they could just take it from me?
They were about to learn a very painful lesson.
The conference room was buzzing with tension when I walked in. Every board member was present, clustered in small groups and speaking in hushed voices. They all fell silent when they saw me.
Selene sat in her usual seat, perfectly composed in a navy suit. She looked every inch the Luna, the perfect corporate wife.
But I could see the calculation in her eyes. The anticipation.