I got the call about Vincent's shooting while I was out visiting a business associate. This was about a half a year later after Connor Maxim of Maxim Securities found Antonia, his true mate. And after I fully welcomed her brother into my family.

His daughter, Sophia, called me hysterical, asking me to help him. Of course, I dropped the ball on the meeting, left my drivers at the country club where I was, and sped so fast down the freeway I remember suffering from whiplash when I finally made the stop in front of his mansion.

---

I pushed through the front door and followed the men up the stairs. They had Vinny propped up onto a bed with about four nurses surrounding him.

He was choking on his own blood.

"Four fucking nurses and he's still leaking blood!" I ran into the room exploding with anger. "Who did this?"

"Tristan, we did everything we could. We had him in stable conditions, but there seems to be some internal bleeding," one of the nurses explained.

I ran to Vincent's bedside, exchanging glances with Sophia who held his other hand, clutching it tightly. I saw the fear in her eyes. They mirrored my own. We were both afraid to lose him.

Vincent lifted his hand. "Tristan…"

"Yes, Vinny, I'm here…"

"Who fucking did this?" I cried. "I'll fucking gut the bastard and feed their entrails to their family."

"Tristan…stop it," Vinny commanded. "Don't start a riot. You know who did this. Your efforts have to be concentrated."

“Vinny…just tell me what you need.”

"I have to go now. I'm sorry I have to go so soon," he said.

"I don't want you to go. Tell me what I have to do. Fuck, shit." I rose swiftly. "Call the fucking police. The Feds. The ambulance. Something. He can't die."

With strength that surprised me, Vinny yanked me back down. "Control yourself. Get ahold of your fucking self. You can let me go without being a pussy. Now shut it and listen to me. "

I shut my mouth.

"You were the son I never had. Promise me something."

"Anything," I stated.

"Don't avenge me…"

I loosened my grip on his hand and shook my head. "Oh, hell no…you can't ask me not to avenge this."

"Listen, boy," he commanded. "Don't waste my goddamned time! Revenge is a waste of time. You're going to learn from the mistakes that those who came before you have made. You're going to build your kingdom from the ground up. Patience…"

"I don't understand."

"Goran Zovic's time has come to an end. You can't fight him with a kingdom you don't have. You need to be strong on your own. You be boss. You be King Cobra. Don't ask anyone else to do it for you. You are not advisor. You are not a follower. You are a leader. You will take this business and you will carry on."

"I will. I will. But you can't die…" I stated.

"Goran will get his. That I promise."

I nodded.

"You don't upset me or I'll come back and kill you…if you don't do this. You told me…You. Wanted This. You told me. You wanted. To lead…Now do it. You go. And do it…"

His heart beats faded away. His eyes fluttered closed.

"Strap up, kid," he said.

"Alright, gotcha."

His grip went lax.

I choked on a sob. I tried to hold in so much pain and frustration that my lungs burned. I couldn't see anyone in the room, but I knew they were all looking at me, waiting for my next command. I couldn't find my voice. I had just made a fucking promise to the man I loved who was a father to me and I couldn't find my fucking voice to fulfill that promise.

Someone came up behind me, but I swatted them away. Tears stung and blinded my eyes.

Finally, I rose up and bolted out of the room. Out of the mansion. Clear across the roads. Through the fields. I shed everything. My clothes. My belt. My soul. My wolf spirit burst free and the shift was instantaneous.

I ran with no direction. Without purpose. There was nothing else left. Only the freezing cold rain pelting at my back.

And darkness.

The void in my heart…replaced by darkness.