The coast wasn’t quite clear. Chance still had one loose end to take care of.

Yes, both Peter Antonov and Leo Petrov were dead. He just had to make sure that the openings they left in their respective turfs were permanently cauterized before a usurper to the thrones could come in and pick up where they had left off.

Franco Moretti.

Chance had his grandfather to thank for this one. Although Viktor couldn’t lend him the money, a certain family that had been itching to reclaim the Houston territory most certainly could.

“You’ve caused quite a ruckus, you know,” Franco said with a smile. He puffed on a cigar as he considered Chance from across the desk.

Chance knew better than to respond. He had no intention of giving this man more information than absolutely necessary. He was reminded of that saying: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

At least he had no personal issues with this particular boss.

Franco, gave a soft chuckle as though reading his mind. Then he gave Chance a sharp look. “What happened to the rest of the money? And don’t even think about giving me that shit about the dealer taking it.”

“That is the going theory,” Chance pointed out.

“And anyone stupid enough to buy it doesn’t have the brains God gave the back end of a donkey.”

Colorful, Chance would give him that much. Everything else, he kept firmly behind sealed lips.

“I could make you turn it over you know,” Franco said, staring hard at him. “Interest on the loan I gave you.”

Chance waited, thinking of Juliet so that his eyes wouldn’t give him away.

Franco waited as well, seeing if he would cave. Finally, he sat back with a sigh. “I suppose I should let you keep it, seeing as how you handed Houston back to the Moretti family on a silver platter. That alone is worth a hundred times as much. Then of course, there’s Jacob Weinstein, that rat fucking bastard. Who knew, huh?”

Chance watched a sly smile come to Franco Moretti’s face as he turned to look out the window of the Montrose office building they were in. In the underworld, information was almost as important as pure power, and Jacob was a damn encyclopedia. Chance certainly didn’t envy the man, who was probably already being “interrogated.” Considering the danger he had posed to Juliet, he also didn’t give half a shit what happened to him.

Franco was still waxing poetic toward the street outside. “Those goddamned Russians, coming in and taking everything from the rightful owners….”

Franco brought his attention back to Chance. “No offense,” he said with a droll smile.

“None taken.” He had no particular love for the Russian, at least most of them.

“You gotta leave Houston, you know. No way am I having you down here fucking things up even further. That’s a distraction I don’t need. Maybe one day you can come back, when we clean up this fucking mess you’ve made. For now, you’re gone.”

“Not a problem,” Chance said truthfully. He had a plan, and it certainly didn’t involve hanging around Houston with a target on his back for anyone who had a particular fondness for either Peter Antonov or Leo Petrov. Fortunately, they were few, and anyone with a head on their shoulders knew they had to play nice with the new boss. That meant leaving Chance alone, at least for now. This bit of protection would only last so long.

“When I say gone, I mean gone. Not Galveston, or San Antonio. In fact forget about the entire state of fucking Texas. Throw in Louisiana while you’re at it. The last thing I need is shit from those guys.”

“Done,” Chance said. He had a pretty good idea of what he wanted to do. All he needed to do was get one gorgeous woman with the world’s most beautiful smile on board.

* * *

“Shit, man. Who the hell would have figured Chance McCoy as the black sheep of the family?” Chip said, laughing. He winced as the pain from his wounds hit him.

Chance was visiting him in the hospital. Chip was due for release soon, sent home to recover from his injuries. He had just told his brother every detail of what had happened since last visiting him. It had taken a while.

“So what are you gonna do now?”

Chance’s eyes drifted to the wall behind Chip and a lazy smile came to his face. “I have an idea. I just have to get her to go along with it.”

Chance brought his focus back to his brother. “What about you? You should probably lay low for a while. I’m the one with the bull’s-eye on me, but that doesn’t mean you’re free and clear.”

Chip rolled his tongue around in his mouth, which heightened Chance’s senses, waiting for what he was about to reveal.

“Actually, I think I’m gonna stick it out on the rig.”

Now that it was out in the open, Chance wasn’t surprised. “Well, it seems to be a fit for you.”

Chip just shrugged, looking away sheepishly.

Chance pondered him, then brought up the touchy subject that had been rolling around in his head for a while. It wasn’t his business, but he’d feel bad about leaving without telling Chip.

“You know, Cherry—Crystal, whatever.”

“Cherry?” Chip interjected. The shift in his body language was swift: tight jaw; hard look; flared nostrils itching for a fight; the blood rushing to his face.

That told Chance everything he needed to know. He actually chuckled, which had Chip practically ready to jump out of that bed and teach him a lesson.

“I hope you’re treatin’ her right,” he said. “She’s one you should probably hold on to. She legit cares about you.”

“Yeah, well,” Chip said, replacing his anger with mild embarrassment. “I suppose it’s good thing I’ll be sticking’ around here. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll make an honest woman of her.”

Chance cocked a half smile.

“Hell, she makes good money,” Chip added with a laugh. “Better than me anyway.”

They both shared a laugh at that one.

* * *

“The money is yours and Chip’s. I’ve got this house and the savings your father left me. Besides you two earned it.”

“You were a part of it too, Ma,” Chance said. He sat with her at the same dining room table where this whole plan had been hatched.

She reached out a hand to cup his face with a smile. “My reward is having both my sons safe and alive. If anything, you should be sharing it with Juliet.”

“Well, that’s the plan,” he said.

“Do you have any idea where you’re going?” Katherine asked.

“None whatsoever,” he said with a smile.

She laughed, then gave him a soft look. “So like your father.”

“So I’ve been told.”

She looked down at the table. “My father…how…how was he?”

“He looks just like you.”

Half her mouth went up in a smile.

Chance read her face, then spoke up. “He misses you. I think he’d be okay hearing from you, rules be damned.”

Her eyes shot up to him. She twisted her mouth keeping her emotions in check.

“Ma,” Chance said leaning in. “Your mother died when you were practically a babe. You lost Daddy a long time ago. You almost lost Chip and me. If anything, all this should tell you that it’s important to tell people you love them while you still have the time. Call him.”

Katherine laughed and let the tears fall.