Magnus released a short laugh, the joke making him look like a teenager again. “I don’t think the girls will stick around if we let that happen.”

The happiness on his face made me smile, because these moments had been so rare for the last decade. In fact, I wasn’t sure if they’d ever happened at all. It was all business and nothing else. I’d cared so much about building wealth that I’d neglected the one relationship I actually valued. Now he had someone who valued him the way I should have valued him. “You’ve got a good woman, Magnus. She’s earned my respect.”

His smile disappeared, his look turning serious once again. Visibly touched, he stared for a while, like my approval meant the world to him, when it shouldn’t matter at all. “Thanks. Means a lot to me.”

Everything changed the moment I knew what Raven had done. She was there for my brother when I wasn’t. She saved his life when my negligence would have gotten him killed. The only reason he was in front of me now was because of her bravery, her devotion, and her love. I wished I could take back every insult I’d given her, whether it was to her face or behind her back. She didn’t deserve it. Whether they stayed together or not, I would always look after her, always be there for her for anything she needed. Forever. “I owe her my life…since she saved yours.”

We laid out our plans. Made some calls. Prepared for an attack that would wipe them out for good. With men and guns, we would approach the camp from the rear, kill the new guards in their sleep.

They wouldn’t expect a retaliation so quickly, so we had the element of surprise.

We returned to the girls who were still in the foyer together, sitting side by side with their hands clasped together.

When Raven noticed Magnus approach, she rose to her feet, ready to listen to whatever he said.

“We’re going to hit the camp tomorrow night.” He spoke to her plainly and didn’t mince his words because she could handle it.

Melanie came up to me, but her eyes were on Magnus as she listened.

“And then what?” Raven shifted her gaze to me for a brief moment before she looked at him again.

“We’ll talk when we get home. Come on.” He moved to the front door, gave me a goodbye nod, and then walked out.

Raven followed.

I watched her go, my heartbeat loud in my ears.

Melanie stared at me, like she knew what I was thinking.

I walked out of the foyer and followed them.

Magnus was around the front of one of my cars, ready to open the driver’s door.

Raven’s back was to me.

I walked down to the middle step. “Raven.”