The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 80 - Eighty

Chapter Eighty

Malachi’s POV

The next morning, I had a meeting with Dante and Rose at one of our secure locations. A small office building we owned under a shell company. Anonymous. Untraceable.

I arrived first, already going through the files Rose had sent overnight. More activity from Zhao Wei. More pieces of a puzzle I couldn’t quite see the full picture of yet.

Dante walked in a few minutes later, his usual relaxed demeanor in place. Rose followed, carrying her tablet and looking as sharp as ever.

"Malachi," Dante greeted, dropping into a chair. "You look like shit."

"Good morning to you too."

"Seriously though. When’s the last time you slept properly?"

"I sleep fine."

"Liar." He leaned back. "How’s Alicia?"

The question caught me slightly off guard. Dante knew about Alicia and me. Had known for a while now. But he rarely brought her up directly.

"She’s fine," I said.

"Just fine? Come on, man. I saw those photos you don’t think I saw. The park? The carousel? You’re getting soft."

"Focus, Dante."

He grinned but dropped it. Rose rolled her eyes at both of us.

"Let’s get to business," she said, pulling up information on her tablet. "Dante, you want to start?"

Dante’s expression shifted to something more serious. "We’ve been seeing more and more traces of Zhao Wei in Silver Lake City. He’s not hiding anymore. Actually making appearances at known locations. Meeting with people."

"What people?" I asked.

"Local gang members. Some corrupt officials. A few businessmen with questionable connections." Dante pulled out his phone and showed me photos. Surveillance shots of Zhao Wei at restaurants, hotels, private clubs. "He’s building something here."

I studied the images. Zhao Wei looked confident. Comfortable. Like he owned the city.

I didn’t understand why he had to come here when he should be protecting his territory in Dark City. His empire was there. His power base. His connections.

It couldn’t just be the simple guess that he wanted to ruin the Blackwoods totally. That would be shortsighted. Stupid. And Zhao Wei wasn’t stupid.

There was something else. Some piece I was missing.

I felt a headache coming on. The kind that came from too many variables and not enough information.

"What’s his endgame?" I asked.

"That’s what we’re trying to figure out," Dante said. "But whatever it is, he’s moving fast. Setting up operations. Making alliances. It’s like he’s preparing for war."

"Or running from one," Rose added. "Maybe something happened in Dark City that forced his hand."

That was a possibility I hadn’t considered. What if Zhao Wei wasn’t expanding? What if he was relocating?

"Look into Dark City," I said to Rose. "See if there’s been any power shifts. Any territory disputes. Anything that would explain why he’d abandon his base."

"Already on it," she said, making notes. "But there’s something else."

The tone of her voice made me look up.

"I found Tyler’s location," Rose said.

The words hung in the air. Heavy. Significant.

Tyler. My cousin. Banished from the family years ago for reasons Pa Wood refused to discuss. The black sheep who’d disappeared so completely I’d assumed he was dead.

I was surprised. Actually surprised, which didn’t happen often.

"Where?" I asked.

"Europe. Switzerland, specifically. He’s been living under an assumed name. Quiet. Off the grid. But I tracked him through some old financial records."

Why would Tyler surface now? Out of all times to show signs of existence? After years of complete silence?

The timing was too convenient. Too suspicious.

While I was still processing this information, the door burst open.

Pearl walked in. Dante’s younger sister. All energy and enthusiasm and completely oblivious to the fact that we were in the middle of a serious meeting.

"Dante!" She rushed over to her brother, practically bouncing. "There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!"

"Pearl, we’re in a meeting," Dante said, but his voice was fond. Indulgent.

"I know, I know. But I wanted to tell you about my day! You won’t believe what happened at the gallery. This woman tried to buy the same painting I wanted and we got into this whole thing—"

She continued talking, completely monopolizing Dante’s attention. Then her eyes landed on me.

"Malachi!" She moved toward me with that same enthusiasm. "I didn’t know you’d be here! How are you? It’s been forever since we’ve talked—"

I gave her a stare. Cold. Direct. The kind that made grown men take a step back.

Pearl froze mid-step. Her smile faltered.

"Right. Meeting. I’ll just—" She grabbed Dante’s arm. "Come on, you promised you’d take me to the cinema today. Remember?"

"Pearl, I’m working," Dante protested, but he was already standing up.

"You promised! And you never break promises to me." She pulled him toward the door. "Besides, the movie starts in an hour and if we’re late we’ll miss the previews."

Dante looked at me apologetically. "Sorry. I promised her last week. Can we finish this later?"

"Go," I said. "We’re mostly done anyway."

"Thanks, man. I’ll call you tonight." He let Pearl drag him out, still talking about the movie and popcorn and whatever else had captured her attention.

The door closed behind them, leaving Rose and me alone.

The room felt quieter. More serious without Dante’s energy.

Rose looked at me steadily. "So. Are we going to talk about it?"

"Talk about what?"

"Alicia. The fact that you’re getting more involved with her."

I should have known Rose would bring this up. She was always the pragmatic one. The one who questioned decisions.

"What about it?"

"Is approaching Alicia a wise decision?" Rose asked carefully. "Getting this close to her. Taking her out publicly. Making it obvious."

"I don’t care," I said flatly.

"You don’t care that you’re risking exposure? That Travis could find out? That the family might—"

"I don’t care," I repeated, my voice harder. "About any of it. About what Travis thinks. What the family thinks. What’s wise or strategic or safe."

Rose studied me for a long moment. "You’re in love with her."

It wasn’t a question. It was a statement. An observation.

I didn’t confirm or deny it. Didn’t need to. Rose could read me better than most people. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"She’s mine," I said instead. "That’s all that matters."

"And if protecting her conflicts with your revenge? With destroying Mario? With everything you came back here to do?"

"Then I choose her."

The words came out without hesitation. Without doubt. Because they were true.

Somewhere along the way, Alicia had become more important than revenge. More important than justice for Emily. More important than anything else.

Rose sighed. "You know this is going to get complicated."

"It’s already complicated."

"More complicated then." She closed her tablet. "But I understand. For what it’s worth, I think she’s good for you. Makes you more human."

"I’m not sure that’s a compliment."

"It is." Rose stood up. "Just be careful, Malachi. The closer you get to her, the more of a target she becomes. To Zhao Wei. To Mario. To everyone who wants to hurt you."

I knew that. Had known it from the beginning. It was why I’d tried to keep my distance at first. Why I’d told myself I couldn’t have her.

But I was done pretending. Done denying what I felt.

"I’ll protect her," I said. "From everyone. Including this family if I have to."

"I believe you." Rose headed for the door. "I’ll send you the Tyler information tonight. And I’ll keep digging on Zhao Wei."

"Thank you."

She paused at the door. "Malachi? She’s lucky to have you. Even if she doesn’t fully realize it yet."

Then she was gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I pulled out my phone and looked at the photo I’d saved from yesterday. Alicia at the park. Smiling. Happy. Free.

That’s what I wanted to give her. Freedom. Happiness. A life where she didn’t have to be afraid or careful or trapped.

Whatever it took. However dangerous it got.

She was worth it.

Worth everything.