Page 163 of Damián

Just the thought of Damián being crushed under a car makes my skin crawl. I am incredibly glad he has brothers willing to do dumb shit to keep him safe.

“In that case, Björn.” I take the beer Damián left next to me and lift it toward him, “Consider your multi-million-dollar drug debt paid.”

“Wohooo!”

“Besides,” I smile. “I’m actually really glad you blew up the meth in this country. It’s an absolute nightmare to make that amount of product disappear once it crosses a border.”

“I want you to know that we fully appreciate the magnitude of the risk you’re taking, Oliver,” Law tells me, and I feel a knot in my throat. “From becoming our informant to stepping up to take your father’s place… You have our utmost respect and our profound gratitude. I can’t even begin to grasp the number of lives you’ve saved.”

“Three hundred and fifty-six thousand people a year… Approximately,” Alexios adds, and the entire team and I turn to stare at him. “I did the math, and it’s super impressive.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, completely stunned.

I never thought I’d hear anyone acknowledge, much less appreciate, everything I’ve been doing. It feels incredibly surreal.

“That means a lot,” I tell him, and honestly, I knew that everything Zara, Kaleo, and I have been doing was saving lives, but I had no idea it had the power to save that many, and every single year.

“Is it okay if I ask what made you become an informant?”

“Finni—”

“I don’t mind answering, Dami.” I place a hand on his arm to stop him, then look back at Finnian. “I couldn’t choose what family I come from, or if they’ll hurt others. But I can choose how I react to it, and what to do to stop it.”

“You would’ve made a great Harknett,” Knox says.

“What are you talking about? He is one. A Harknett-adjacent, just like our Finni here.” Leif smiles and pats Finnian’s shoulder.

“I appreciate the inclusion, Leif, but I’m still nae forgiving you for eating ma cookie dough.”

“I told you I was sorry!” Leif pleads, moving his hands as if he were praying. “It was Fika food! The urge is out of my control!”

“Well, it’s out of ma control to go easy on you.”

As they talk and laugh, I smile, wishing I belonged here with them. And I can’t help but hope that one day, just as they chose each other, I could also choose my own family and be loved by them.

And that hope feels better than anything I ever imagined.

CHAPTER 19

DAMIÁN

New Heaven | Freeport 11th

15:00 Hours

Silvio parks the SUV right in front of a white concrete Freeport on the outskirts of the city. The compound has reinforced windows, top-notch security, a fence topped with coiled razor wire, and armed men standing by the steel doors.

Damn!

Leif would love to infiltrate this place.

I unbuckle my seatbelt, check that my two guns are fully loaded, slide a knife into my boot holster, and turn to Oliver.

“Wait here.”

“Damián—”

“I told you to wait here, boss.” I lean closer to his ear and whisper, “Don’t make me tie you up in this van.”