Chapter 14
East Harbor stayed exactly where it was.
Not because Gavin lost.
Because it had never been his to win.
I reassigned part of its oversight to a younger capo named Thomas Reed based on performance.
Gavin heard.
It hurt.
Good.
Not punishment.
Reality.
He had confused proximity with qualification.
Now someone else earned what he tried to inherit through marriage.
He came to see me.
“You gave it to Reed.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve known you longer.”
“Yes.”
“I’m family.”
I looked at him.
“No.”
He flinched.
“You are connected to my family.”
Silence.
“Family is not a job description.”
That sentence stayed with him.
He asked:
“Can I ever earn something again?”
“Maybe.”
Surprise.
I continued.
“But not through Sienna.”
His face changed.
“Not through Mila.”
Silence.
“Not through Elena.”
I leaned back.
“If you want a place, build one where no woman or child has to shrink for you to stand taller.”
He nodded slowly.
That was the first ambition I was willing to hear.
Not promotion.
Repair.
Harder.
Slower.
May you like
Uncertain.
Good.
