Chapter 15 - The Call HomeBy 6:00 AM, the Canadian operation was secured, rebranded, and folded directly into the legitimate Moretti logistics network. I sat in the private cabin of the Gulfstream as it soared back over the snowy expanse toward Chicago, holding my encrypted satellite phone.
I dialed the penthouse number. It rang twice before a familiar, sleep-roughened voice answered.
"Roman?" Naomi’s voice came through the speaker, carrying a hint of immediate alertness. "Is everything alright? It’s six in the morning."
"Everything is fine," I said, leaning my head back against the seat and closing my eyes. "The northern border is secure. Nobody is ever going to threaten our doorstep again."
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. I could hear the faint sound of Rosie singing a cartoon theme song in the background.
"You didn't have to fly to Canada to prove a point, Roman," Naomi sighed softly, though there was a smile hidden in her tone. "You're a father now, not an army general."
"They're the same thing, Naomi," I replied gently. "You protect your tribe with everything you have."
"Well, hurry home," she said. "Jack has his school spelling bee this afternoon, and he specifically demanded that his 'cool, scary dad' sit in the front row."
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A genuine smile broke across my face—a rare, unguarded expression that only my children and my most trusted confidant ever got to see.
"Tell him I'll be there," I said. "Suit and tie."
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