Adam was in no hurry to return to the apartment. He was happy to know that he had a son, and he already loved him, with a love unknown to him until then. When he saw Ian for the first time, he felt the thrill of knowing he was a father, but somehow, just that day, he was feeling like his father. He felt like protecting him, but at the same time, he wanted to teach him how to defend himself, and to be cruel to anyone who didn't deserve his consideration. He had a lot to teach Ian. He would be a king and have all his desires satisfied. The world he had conquered, both the mafia and the werewolves, would be his. He would lack nothing. Now, he had plans to have a few more children with Anna, so that he could follow her pregnancy closely. He wanted to hear the child's heartbeat, feel its kicks and take part in its childhood. He had never wanted to have a child with any other woman but her. And now he was sure that she would accompany him back.
As he walked along, dreaming of his life from then on, he came across a shopping mall and went inside. He found a water machine gun and bought it for his son. He wanted his surroundings to reach his heart. He wanted it to become part of his routine. He would order everyone to obey him in all his wishes. And the three of them would be happy. He would marry Anna according to werewolf traditions. She would dress him like a queen. She would be his queen. He would conquer her again. He could see in her eyes that she was not indifferent to him. Perhaps the distance had dimmed the flame of their love, but now he knew he could rekindle a very large fire inside her. It would be different. He would give her the time she needed to understand that she belonged to him. He wouldn't make the same mistakes as before.
Once everything was settled, he got into his car and drove back to his brother's apartment. This time, the bodyguards let him pass without searching him. He was happy. There was no one in the room, but he could hear the childish voice of his son talking and laughing with someone, as he himself only acted with those he had full confidence in.
Adam followed the sound of the voice, and found a bodyguard standing in front of a door, arms crossed, who didn't move when Adam stopped facing him, with the determined intention of entering.
"Get out of my way!" Adam said interjectedly.
The man stared at him, and when he heard his threatening voice, he cracked a debauched smile.
"You're not on your territory, wolf. You're not in charge here." The man said dismissively, revealing that he knew Adam's origin.
"Let him through!" The order came from inside the room, and the man, glaring at Adam coldly, stepped aside.
Adam smiled, satisfied and defiant, at the man. And before entering, he stopped and looked at him again thoughtfully.
"I can't be in a territory that doesn't belong to me, because all territories belong to me, but you're going to find out in a very painful way that my power isn't just about my secret. I know how to kill creatures like you." Adam said the last sentence very quietly, so that only the creature could hear, and entered the room.
His son was on a wooden horse, rocking back and forth, while Anna's father was talking in his ear and Ian was smiling amusedly. However, as soon as he noticed Adam's presence, he immediately became serious. Anna's father, who was sitting in an armchair next to the child, also fell silent and watched as Adam froze with a gift-wrapped package in his hands.
"Have a seat Adam." Henry invited, pointing to another armchair with his chin.
Adam just entered the room, and did as his son's grandfather said. The boy stared at him in disgust when he sat down because he had interrupted the conversation, and Adam thought he would have trouble winning the trust and love of his own son. Something the child was supposed to feel from the moment he was born. He held out the package, but the boy didn't take it.
"Don't be rude, Ian!" Grandpa scolded him. "Take the present and say thank you."
The boy glared at Adam and took the present.
"Thank you. It could be real and I'd unload the ammunition into you." He said and then threw the gift away from him, and began to swing on his wooden horse again.
Adam stared at the boy in surprise. How did he know what was in the package?
"Ian..." Henry called out in annoyance, and stared at him in such a way that the boy got off his horse and reached for the present.
He opened it and looked at it without disappointment. Then he looked at his grandfather, ignoring Adam.
"Can't I have a real gun like that?"
"Not yet... Your mother would go into crisis." His grandfather said laughing.
The boy then put the toy gun on the bed and went back to his horse.
"You're going for a ride with me, and then I'll let you shoot with a real one." Adam said excitedly. "You'll be able to unload all the ammunition into me."
Ian looked at him interestedly.
"You promise?" He asked with a new twinkle in his eye.
"Yes. I promise."
Ian suddenly looked sad.
"Mom won't let you take me..." He said mournfully.
"Of course she will, Ian. She's going with us too.
Ian looked at his grandfather for affirmation, hope in his eyes. It didn't matter that his uncle hadn't realized the real intent of his question, but he understood that none of the adults around him were ready for him yet. And his childish side really appreciated his uncle's words.
"Grandpa's coming with you too." Anna's father said, confirming for Ian and sounding a warning to Adam.
"Anhygoel!" He said happily.
"Speak English, my son. Your mother doesn't like you talking indoors in another language." Grandpa scolded, but he was smiling.
Ian stopped the horse.
"And Dad? Is he going too?"
Adam exchanged a glance with Anna's father, and left it to him to answer.
"Ian, it's time for you to eat some fruit." He said and called out to the man waiting at the door. "Send someone to fetch Ian here so he can eat." He ordered as soon as the man entered the room.
"Yes, sir." He said and left.
Before Ian had a chance to say that he wasn't hungry, as he had intended, a woman came in and took his hand and led him away.
Adam then turned to Anna's father with a disappointed look on his face.
"You shouldn't have kept my son from me. When you needed me, I protected your daughter. Is that the retribution you have for me?"
Anna's father looked at him calmly.