As soon as Genesis stepped into the car and the door closed with a heavy thud, she broke.
Her body folded in on itself, head tucked between her knees as silent sobs shook her frame. The moment she'd dreaded—walking back into that house—was over. But it had taken everything in her.
She clutched her throat, her breathing jagged and uneven. The silence in the car was deafening—loud in its own way. Her heart thundered in her chest.
She had done it.
She had really done it.
She took it all back.
Genesis raised her tear-filled eyes and looked up through the glass roof at the afternoon sky. Lips trembling, she mouthed the words:
"I did it, Father… I did it."
There was no sound, but in her heart, she hoped he heard her.
Outside, Knight and Dave stood at the curb, the early sunlight casting long shadows over the driveway.
Dave glanced at the car and nodded. "Yes… she's shaken," he said softly. "But who wouldn't be?"
Knight stood with arms crossed, jaw tight. His eyes were fixed on the house.
"She walked into the wolves' den," Dave went on, "and didn't flinch. That takes guts. And the board knows it too. Did you see their faces? They won't admit it—but they're scared of her now." He gave a short laugh.
Knight grunted. "Good."
Dave looked at him. "You know, if you merged Caldwell Tech with Blackwood Enterprises, this mess could be cleaned up in a month. You'd double your reach. You're the CEO of the biggest company in the state, Kieran. You could bring the entire empire back under your control."
Knight didn't answer immediately. He ran a hand through his hair, thinking. Then, quietly:
"I could."
Dave raised a brow. "But you won't."
"No," Knight said. "She needs to do this. On her own terms. I'll be here… but I won't be her shield. Not this time."
"But she's not trained for this," Dave said gently. "She's never been a CEO. From what you told me, she was never even sent to school. She's never handled anything this big."
Knight finally turned to him, his expression firm.
"She doesn't need to be trained. She's Genesis Blackwood Caldwell. She's lived under fire for fifteen years and survived it. She's already handled worse."
Dave went silent, then smiled faintly. "You really think she can bring Caldwell Tech back?"
"I don't think. I know she can," Knight said. "She might not speak corporate, but she's smarter than anyone in that house. And she's angry. Focused. That kind of fire doesn't burn out—it builds empires."
He looked back at the car, where Genesis sat inside, still wiping her tears.
"She'll learn what she doesn't know," he added. "And anything she needs... I'll give her. But the company? That's hers to raise."
Dave chuckled under his breath. "Remind me never to bet against your wife."
Knight smirked. "Too late."
He opened the car door and got in beside her—offering the one thing she needed most: his presence.
His loyalty.
His belief.
Genesis turned to him slowly. Then without a word, she lunged.
Knight widened his arms to hold her as she curled into his lap, arms wrapped tightly around him, face pressed into his neck, breathing him in like air.
"Princess," he whispered, pressing his lips to her temple. "It's all yours now. Everything is yours."
She didn't say a word. Just clung to him and cried.
And through it all, he didn't pull away. He didn't speak again. He just held her.
Until her tears ran dry.
A few minutes later, she lifted her head, face swollen and eyes red-rimmed. Mucus trailed down her nose.
Knight smiled at the mess. He loved her more than he could ever put into words.
"You're a wreck," he murmured, reaching for a tissue.
But before he could grab it, Genesis cupped his face and kissed him.
Right then. Right there.
Tears and snot and all.
Her tears wet his lips. Her snot smeared his upper lip. But he didn't pull back.
Not until she did.
Genesis's eyes flew open as she saw the mess she'd left on his face. Horrified, she turned to grab the tissue box, but he caught her by the chin.
"You've completely messed me up, little wife…" he murmured, eyes locked on hers.
She froze, wide-eyed.
"And I don't seem to care," he added.
Then he crushed his mouth against hers.
The kiss was messy. Wet. Completely uncoordinated. Her cheeks were still damp with tears, her nose slightly runny, but none of it mattered. His lips moved over hers like he was starving—like he needed her to breathe.
When they finally broke apart, both of them were gasping for air. Her lips were swollen. His face was still damp.
Knight let out a breathless laugh. "Well… that was disgusting."
Genesis reached out to wipe his mouth with her sleeve, but he caught her wrist and kissed it instead.
"And perfect," he said, pressing kisses to each of her knuckles. "Just like you."
His voice dropped lower.
"I have one last thing to give you."
****
Genesis's eyes went wide as she looked around the place Knight had brought her to.
The sharp crack of gunfire echoed around them. People stood in individual booths, wearing protective earmuffs, unloading rounds at human-shaped targets. The air smelled like metal and gunpowder.
She turned to him with a confused expression, her brows knitting tightly together.
Knight smirked and leaned down, his lips brushing her ear.
"It's a shooting range," he murmured. "And today, I'm teaching you how to defend yourself."
She blinked rapidly, stepping back slightly. Her fingers gripped the sleeves of her coat, chest rising and falling faster with each breath.
He saw the flicker of fear in her eyes—and stepped in closer, unapologetically invading her space like he had every right to.
"I know," he said gently, his gaze locked on hers. "It's loud. It's new. But this…"
He didn't say it out loud, but he knew this went against everything the doctor warned them about.
He just didn't care.
He reached up and brushed a loose curl from her face, his touch soft but sure, grounding.
"This is power, Princess. And you're never going to be helpless again."
Genesis's eyes widened as he guided her gently toward an empty booth. The sharp cracks of gunfire echoed around them, and she flinched with each one, her shoulders jerking involuntarily.
Knight noticed—he always noticed.
Without a word, he stepped behind her and reached up, grabbing a pair of earmuffs from the wall. Then, with hands that had ended lives and yet now moved like they worshipped her, he placed the muffs gently over her ears, adjusting them until they were perfect.
She watched him, heart racing, breath shaky.
He cupped her cheeks from behind, leaning down so she could see his lips clearly.
"You're safe," he mouthed.
"With me."
She nodded, her hands still trembling.
He pressed a soft kiss to her temple—something that looked far too tender for someone like him. Then he turned to the wall, pulled a matte black Glock from the rack, and held it out to her, grip first.
She froze, staring at the weapon.
Then at him.
Knight stepped closer. So close his chest was pressed to her back, like a wall shielding her from the world.
"Take it," he said softly. "I'll guide you."
Her fingers moved hesitantly, but he wrapped his hands around hers, steadying them, guiding them, teaching her how to hold the gun like it belonged to her.
"You'll never be defenseless again," he whispered, his lips grazing her skin.
"Not while I'm breathing."
They stood in the booth, surrounded by gunfire and the smell of gunpowder, but to her—it all faded. It was just his voice, his warmth, and the cold weight of power in her hands.
"Feet apart," he murmured. "Arms steady. I've got you."
Her breath hitched as she followed his instructions. Hands shaking. Eyes burning.
But she nodded.
He leaned in again, breath hot against the shell of her ear.
"Breathe in," he whispered.
"And squeeze."
BANG.
She gasped, the sound jolting through her, but he didn't let her drop the weapon.
She turned to look at him, eyes wide, lips trembling.
Knight smiled—proud and possessive and soft all at once.
"Good girl," he said.
"Wanna go again?"
She nodded quickly, determination rising behind her eyes like fire.
Knight pulled her in closer, one arm still around her waist.
"That's my Princess," he growled, the pride in his voice dark and raw.
And as she lifted the gun again, hands steadier this time, he knew—
He'd burn the world down to protect this version of her.
And anyone who dared stand in her way… was already dead.