My six-year-old nephew crawled to my door with a broken leg while his three-year-old sister clung to his shirt, sobbing

The Saint Jude Community Center was a brick building in central Austin, funded jointly by the Moretti and O'Connor charities as a truce zone. By unwritten rule, no weapons were allowed inside.

When I stepped through the heavy double doors, two of Liam O'Connor's men moved to check me for weapons. Frank Castle stepped up behind me, his massive frame blocking them.

"Touch him and I break your hands," Frank growled.

"Stand down, boys," a voice called out from the gymnasium.

Liam O'Connor sat on a wooden bench under the dim lights of the basketball court. He was fifty years old, thick-necked, with thinning gray hair and a face carved from granite. He held a cup of black coffee in one hand.

I walked across the polished hardwood floor and stopped ten feet away.

"Thomas," Liam said, taking a sip of coffee. "You look tired. Hearing bad news about family takes a toll on a man."

"You touched my family, Liam," I said.

"I didn't touch anyone," Liam replied smoothly. "Your dead brother's wife owed me two million dollars in gambling debts. She offered me Ethan's shares in Moretti Logistics as collateral. I'm a businessman. A debt is a debt."

"She starved Ethan's children to clear that debt," I said, my voice dangerously steady. "And you knew it. You sent your enforcers to her house twice last week. You saw the basement, Liam."

Liam set his coffee cup down on the bench. His eyes hardened. "I don't care about your brother's kids, Thomas. This is the real world. Ethan thought he was too good for our life. He went clean, built a pretty company, and looked down on us. Now he's dead, his wife is a junkie gambler, and his company is up for grabs."

"The company isn't up for grabs. It belongs to Leo and Maya."

"A six-year-old cripple and a toddler?" Liam laughed, a dry, grating sound. "They can't run a logistics firm. They can't manage government contracts. Sell me the shares for fifty cents on the dollar, Thomas. Take the kids, go play loving uncle, and leave the business to men who know how to handle it."

I took three slow steps forward. Liam's men reached into their coats, but Liam held up a hand, stopping them.

"If you take one more step toward those shares, Liam," I said softly, "I will dismantle your entire organization. I will take your docks, your clubs, your warehouses, and your homes. I will leave you with nothing."

Liam stood up, his tall frame towering over the bench. "Is that a threat, Moretti?"

"It's a promise. You have twenty-four hours to pull your men off Ethan's company properties and release all claims on his estate. If I see an O'Connor soldier near my nephew's inheritance after tomorrow, it's war."

Liam stared at me for a long moment, evaluating the threat. He saw the cold certainty in my eyes and knew I wasn't bluffing. But pride is a dangerous thing for a mob boss.

"You're soft, Thomas," Liam sneered. "Taking in orphans. Playing house. Your father would be ashamed of you."

I didn't lose my temper. I simply turned and walked toward the exit.

"Twenty-four hours, Liam," I said over my shoulder. "Tick-tock."

By mid-afternoon, I was back at my estate. The pediatric medical team had brought Leo home from the hospital in a specialized transport van. Maya had been discharged earlier that morning.

The estate had been transformed. The east wing was now a sanctuary of light and color. Leo's new room had a custom adjustable bed, a high-end gaming system, and walls painted with blue skies and mountains. Maya's room was filled with soft rugs, stuffed animals, and a small wooden playhouse.

When the nurses wheeled Leo into his room, he stopped, his eyes wide with awe.

"Is this... mine?" he asked, pointing to the massive room.

"It's all yours, Leo," I said, leaning down to lock his wheelchair brakes. "And if you want anything changed, just tell me."

Maya ran into the room, holding a giant velvet teddy bear. She scrambled up onto the side of Leo's bed, burying her face in his shoulder. "Leo! Look! Uncle Thomas gave me a bear!"

Leo smiled—a real, genuine smile that reached his eyes for the first time since I found him at my gate. He wrapped his arm around his sister.

A gentle knock sounded at the open door.

I turned to see a woman standing in the doorway. She was in her late thirties, dressed in a sharp gray pant suit, carrying a thick leather briefcase. Her hair was pulled back in a neat bun, and her brown eyes were sharp, evaluating everything in the room.

Sarah Jenkins. Child Protective Services.

"Mr. Moretti?" she asked, stepping inside.

"Ms. Jenkins," I said, stepping forward to shake her hand. Her grip was firm, uncompromising. "Thank you for coming."

"I'm not here for pleasantries, Mr. Moretti," Sarah said directly, looking past me at the children. "I'm here to evaluate whether this environment is safe, stable, and appropriate for two severely traumatized minors."

"Of course," I said. "Please, inspect whatever you need."

Sarah walked around the room, checking the window locks, inspecting the medical equipment, and observing the children. She pulled a small notepad from her pocket and took notes.

"I've read the police reports regarding Rebecca Vance," Sarah said softly, keeping her voice low so the children couldn't hear. "What happened to these children is horrific. But my concern, Mr. Moretti, is your background."

"My background?"

"Don't play coy," Sarah said, looking me straight in the eye. "You are Thomas Moretti. Federal law enforcement has had you under surveillance for a decade. Your name is associated with organized crime. A house guarded by men with concealed firearms is not a normal environment for children."

"This house is a fortress, Ms. Jenkins," I replied smoothly. "Which means no one can hurt them here. Rebecca will never touch them again. Liam O'Connor will never touch them. They have 24/7 private nursing care, top child psychologists, and a family that loves them."

"Love isn't enough if a drive-by shooting happens at your front gate," Sarah retorted sharp. "Children need stability, normalcy, and safety from violence. Can you promise them a life completely divorced from your... professional activities?"

I went quiet for a moment. I looked back at Leo, who was carefully showing Maya how to play a game on his tablet. The innocent sound of their quiet giggles filled the room.

"My brother Ethan hated my world," I told Sarah, my voice low and earnest. "He kept his kids away from me because he wanted them to grow up clean. I respected that. But when Ethan died, the world came for his children anyway. The danger didn't come from my world, Ms. Jenkins—it came from a woman who was supposed to love them."

I stepped closer to Sarah. "I cannot change who I am. But I can promise you this: I will burn my entire empire to the ground before I allow any harm to come to Leo and Maya. Give me a chance to prove I can give them a safe home."

Sarah Jenkins stared at me, searching my face for any sign of deception. After a long silence, she closed her notepad.

"I am granting temporary placement here under strict court supervision," Sarah said carefully. "I will conduct unannounced visits twice a week. You will enroll Leo in home-schooling until his leg heals, and both children must attend therapy three times a week. If I see even a hint of danger, Mr. Moretti, I will petition the court to place them in state custody immediately."

"Fair enough," I said.

As Sarah turned to leave, my phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a text from Marco: