“Okay…” she whispers. I raise my hand and cup her cheek, pulling her bottom lip down with my thumb, and then bending down, I kiss her lips. Quickly, but deliberately, before I leave her. As I get to the door, I look back at her briefly, and I don’t miss the smile that has now appeared on her face, which I return before walking straight out the door and closing it firmly behind me.

I stalk with purpose down the hall. I need to meet the doctor down in our medic room, as I’m already about half an hour later than promised.

As I walk out of my front door and make my way through the maze of corridors, I nod at a few of our new men who are starting their patrols in our compound. Many of them will get lost over the course of the next week or so as they find their footing in what is a new world here in New York—worlds apart from their Sicilian upbringing.

I walk farther down the hall until I reach our surgery.

Sebastian and I have built up our compound bit by bit over the years. First, purchasing all the properties around the entire block, building secure housing, basement levels that go deep underground, along with meeting rooms, surveillance rooms, a doctor’s surgery, and many panic rooms and supply rooms.

Sebastian and Goldie have their residence next door to mine, Carter has a smaller apartment across the way, and the whole building runs the perimeter of the entire square of the block. Our large garden is enclosed in the middle, where our friends and family play and where we have our social gatherings. Leo plays with his soccer balls and our men do their daily fitness. It is our peace in the mayhem. Our secure compound is impenetrable; no one can come in or out without either massive fire power or stealth knowledge.

I sigh as I walk around the next corner and then into our infirmary. The doctor and nurse are there waiting for me, having been called in to assess the damage from today’s activities. They are some of the top surgeons from the nearby hospital. We have them on our payroll, and while they don’t always like to come to help us and get in the middle of our messes, we pay them handsomely and they are good associates of ours. I nod to them in greeting, and I can see they have everything ready to stitch me up and send me on my way. Plonking down in the chair, I remain silent as I let them get to work, before my head snaps up at a voice coming from the doorway.