There was an undercurrent of tension leading up to Andrew Vincent's visit to the Knox home. It was practically unheard of for this type of thing to happen and every one was on high alert putting security measures in place to ensure the visit went smoothly.

My nerves were shot and I paced the entry way, checking my watch every couple of minutes.

"Stop Kira," Angel finally said, bringing me out of my thoughts at to the present.

"I hate having to wait," I mumbled.

"You have nothing to be nervous about," he said taking my hand into his as I released a pent-up breath.

"Well I think he is crazy, giving his twenty one year old daughter an empire she has no idea how to run. It feels like a recipe of disaster." I gave the short and sweet to how I felt on the matter.

He touched my face. "He has no choice. You are his heir Kira. I know how this feels, I took over from my father at the same age because I had to. And I figured it out. You will too."

He held so much confidence in me and it made me feel a little better.

"I don't know what I would do without you," I breathed. Remnants of the previous day still hung in my mind, reminding me to treasure the things that mattered. Angel mattered.

To think I had come so close to nearly losing him, still stole the breath from my lungs and I had to make a conscious effort to remind myself that he was safe, here with me now.

His hand caressed my cheek and I closed my eyes to savor the his touch, light across my skin.

I could feel him move closer and his breath fanned my lips. I wanted him to kiss me so badly I put my arms around his neck and pulled him to me, our lips touching.

His arms wrapped around my waist bringing our bodies as close together as possible. His mouth coaxed mine open and I touched his tongue tentatively with mine. I groaned as he deepened the kiss and I wanted more.

Then I broke the kiss, knowing that if I didn't I wouldn't be able to stop myself from dragging him into the nearest room to have him.

Our breathing was heavy.

"I want you so much," I murmured, still feeling the impression of his mouth on mine.

"You have no idea how much I want to take you upstairs and show you how much I want you again."

My heart filled with emotion nearly burst from my chest.

I had never felt so happy to love and be loved. It was truly uplifting and I felt like I could conquer anything as long as I had him.

I wanted to touch him but knew that it would override any logical thought. I was trying to control every urge to throw caution to the wind and ignore the fact that my real father was about to show up any minute now for a very important meeting I couldn't miss.

His dark gaze held mine and I swallowed. Memories of him taking me to knew heights made it so much harder to fight the battle between what I wanted and what I had to do.

"I hope this meeting goes quickly," I murmured, very aware of his gaze and how it slid over me. It made me very aware of every female curve I had, and it felt empowering to know that I could make him want me as much as I wanted him.

Our chemistry was off the charts but it was the emotion behind it that amplified it for me. It wasn't just sex, a physical act between two people. It was a joining of hearts.

We hadn't really finished our conversation before we had been ambushed and there was still so much unspoken between us but it would have to wait.

Then Angel got the call that my father had arrived. He gave the instruction to let him in.

I gripped his hand as we stood side by side waiting by the door. "Are you sure about this?"

Crime bosses didn't meet on the other's turf so this was a first but this was definitely unusual circumstances. My presence as Angel's wife, and the daughter of Andrew Vincent made me the link between the two families. So much responsibility, all I could do was hope I didn't buckle under the pressure of it all.

The black limousine pulled up in front of the house and my father got out, unfolding his frame.

"Kira," he greeted.

"Andrew," I greeted. I didn't feel conformable calling him father, I wasn't sure it was something I would ever feel I could do. The man who had raised me hadn't been much of a father to me either. Maybe given the little time I still had with Andrew might be enough for me to feel differently.

"Angel," his voice was stiffer when his attention turned to my husband.

They shook hands and Andrew followed us into the house with one bodyguard. James was in the study when we arrived, his gaze fixed on the bodyguard who entered the room with Andrew.

Andrew sat down and I sat across from me. Angel took the seat beside me.

James and the bodyguard remained standing, having the most intense stare down I had ever witnessed.

I moved my attention to Andrew.

"You two got married." He started the meeting with the direct statement, his focus on the rings on my hand.

"We did," Angel answered, covering my hand with his in a protective way. Linking us, under the disapproval evident in Andrew's features.

"As my only heir and daughter I want to give you the big wedding, no expense will be spared," his voice was stern.

"That's not necessary," I assured him. "We don't need big declarations of love."

"As my daughter it will be expected. I don't have much longer but I at least want to be able to walk you down the aisle. If you wont do it for yourself, then do it for me."

Unless you knew that he was terminal, you wouldn't be able to tell just by looking at him. It made me wonder how much he would deteriorate in the coming months and how much time I would have before he passed.

"Fine," I replied. I could grant a dying man his wish. It was the least I could do.

I could get held up in all the reason to be angry with him and blame him in part for my mother's untimely death. But after what happened the day before I realized that life was short and I didn't want to hold onto the animosity that would darken my heart.

I wanted to embrace life all the good aspects of it and allow them to light my way through the dark ones.

"I have hired a wedding planner who will contact you and start with the arrangements."

He had taken for granted I would agree.

"I don't have a lot of time left Kira and I'm not going to waste any of it."

I nodded, trying to understand where he was coming from.

We then proceeded to the topic of the meeting. The handing over of an empire and my inheritance. I would have liked my brother to have attended but he had some loose ends to tie up and would get up to scratch when he got back.

The amount of money and responsibility was so much it was obscene.

When the meeting ended I was wiped. Andrew left and the tension filled atmosphere eased. Angel saw my father out while I stayed in the study with James.

"You okay?" James asked, breaking the heavy silence I sat in.

"No. I'm not okay." My voice was heavy.

Not only did have to learn the ropes, so to speak but I also had a huge wedding to organize in less than a month. It felt impossible.

James squeezed my shoulder. "You'll figure things out and you have people who will help you while you find your feet."

I nodded, not feeling that same confidence.

"You are a very powerful woman now. You don't have to play by anybody's rules but your own. That should be empowering. Remember that."

I had never looked at it like that. I smiled when my gaze lifted to meet his. "Thanks."

He nodded and lifted his hand from my shoulder before leaving me alone when he closed the door quietly behind him.

I stood and wondered over to the window to look over the grounds of the estate. I took in a deep breath and released it, repeating the same sequence over and over until I started to feel like I had a handle on things.

James was right, I had the power to live the life I wanted to within the confines of the criminal world. I didn't have to do things the way my father did, and it was the first time I saw my succession and inheritance as a blessing and not curse.

I inhaled a deep breath and let myself just enjoy the moment of being alive, with the love of man I loved and a future that I had dreams and hopes for.