Chapter 1

Claire's POV

I helped him claw his way up from nothing—from the family's bastard to king of the underworld.

I saved him when he got jumped in the streets. Took bullets for him when his father beat him half dead. We fought our way up from nothing, survived assassination attempts, built an empire that made people fear our name.

I thought we'd always stand together.

Until the day I nearly died giving birth, and all I found in the bassinet was a stack of cash.

I asked him where our baby was. He couldn't look me in the eye. His stepmother walked out holding my son. Smiled and said she deserved this, a child of her own, since she couldn't have one herself. He'd given my baby to another woman.

Turns out he'd been sleeping with her the whole time.

I threw the money in his face. I spent the next six years trying to get my son back.

Last week, when some small-time gang grabbed him, I went in alone with a gun. Bullets flew past my ears, kicked up concrete dust. I fought my way to the back and pulled him out. At the hospital, he pushed me away, crying, "Why'd you have to come?! We could've been a real family by now! Just leave! Leave me alone!"

I stared at his small face for a long time.

Finally, I said, "Call me mom one last time. Then I'll let you go."

---

Owen blinks at me.

"If I call you that, you'll really stop trying to take me from Isabelle?"

I nod.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Mom."

He says it. His voice sounds small, like he's closing a deal.

The wound on my arm is still bleeding, the bandage soaked through. Blood drips down my elbow onto the floor. I press my hand over it. "Yeah."

"So you really won't try to take me anymore?"

His eyes are desperate, like he needs permission to stay with her.

I look at him. Six years old and he already looks just like his father. Back when Elijah was nothing. When his father kicked him down, left him bloody and begging for one shot. We fought our way up together. He said we'd stand at the top, make everyone respect us.

Now he's made it. And I can't even keep my own son.

"Not anymore." I smile a little. "Never again."

Owen says he wants to leave. I have a nurse re-bandage the wound and carry him out.

When we get back to the estate, Elijah already has everyone lined up. The butler, caregivers, bodyguards, all waiting at the entrance. They all look surprised when I walk in carrying Owen. Guess they didn't expect me to bring him back.

Owen squirms in my arms. I let go and he runs straight to Isabelle, throwing himself at her. "Mom!"

Elijah frowns. Isabelle picks Owen up, checks him over, then looks at me with a smile. "He's ours. Mine and Elijah's. What the hell gives you the right?"

The butler steps forward. "Donna, you can't just take the boy like that. You had everyone worried sick."

One of the caregivers chimes in. "Miss Isabelle is his mother. She should be the one taking care of him. You're always out there shooting people. What do you know about raising a kid?"

"Exactly! If something happened to Owen, could you live with yourself?"

Someone steps forward, looking ready to get physical.

Elijah's voice cuts through. "Enough."

Everyone shuts up. Isabelle's expression darkens as she carries Owen upstairs.

Elijah walks over and grabs my arm. He grabs right over the wound. I gasp but he doesn't let go, dragging me upstairs into the bedroom and slamming the door.

He turns on me, already pissed. "Do you have any idea what you did today? Going to that dock, you almost dragged her into it. If those people figure out who she is, you think she'll be safe?"

I sit on the couch, looking down at the bandage bleeding through again. "Owen was kidnapped."

"That still wasn't your fucking call!" His voice rises. "That's her business. What the hell are you doing?"

I look up at him.

I know this face too well. Back when he was getting beat bloody, I took bullets for him. He promised he'd make me the most powerful woman in this world, that we'd stand at the top together.

Now he's standing here looking at me like I'm nobody.

"Who do you think you are?" he goes on. "Everyone knows she's his mother. All you're doing is embarrassing her."

I stare at him for a long time. The longer I look, the less I recognize him.

"I'm tired." My voice comes out calm. "Let me go. She can have it all. The title of Donna. Everything."