At twelve years old, I risked my life to save a drowning man—only to discover minutes later that I had pulled the most feared mafia boss in the city from the river.

The sun was just beginning to peek over the eastern horizon, painting the sky in soft shades of amber, pink, and pale gray. The black SUV rolled smoothly down Maple Street, coming to a gentle halt right outside the faded brick apartment building where Leo lived.

The street was quiet, waking up to the gentle hum of an ordinary morning. The trash trucks hadn't arrived yet, and the air smelled faintly of fresh rain and asphalt.

The vehicle doors opened, and Leo stepped out onto the pavement, followed by Sarah. They looked normal again, though tired and weathered by the extraordinary events of the past two days. Sarah held Leo’s small hand tightly in hers, as if letting go even for a second might make the nightmare return.

Jax remained seated inside the back of the SUV for a moment, looking out the tinted window at the quiet street. Then, he pushed the door open and stepped out onto the pavement. His suit was back on—a fresh one, impeccably tailored—and the gold chain necklace rested beneath his white collar.

Leo let go of his mother’s hand for a moment and walked over to the tall man. He looked up, his big hazel eyes serious and clear.

"Are you leaving now?" Leo asked.

Jax looked down at the boy. He knelt on one knee so they were at eye level, just like he had beside the riverbank under the bridge.

"Yeah, Leo. I have to go back," Jax said softly. "There’s a company to run, and a lot of things to fix. But people like Marcus Sterling won't be bothering you or your mother ever again. That part is over."

Sarah walked up behind her son, resting a gentle hand on Leo’s shoulder. She looked at Jax, her voice steady and sincere. "Thank you. For everything. I don't know how we'll ever repay you."

Jax stood up, offering a faint, reassuring smile. "You don't owe me anything, Sarah. It was Leo who pulled me out of the water first. I just returned the favor."

Jax reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small, heavy silver pen, pressing it gently into Leo’s palm along with the embossed business card he had given him earlier.

"Keep that card, kid," Jax said quietly. "If you ever need anything—college, a job, or just a friend who understands what it's like to pull someone out of a river—you call that number."