Building an empire in the light wasn't the same as moving in the shadows. In the dark, I could operate unseen, pulling strings without interference. But in the open, everything had consequences. Every move had to be calculated. Every decision had to be airtight.
I needed people. The right people.
I reached out to my most trusted allies operatives, strategists, former military commanders, and intelligence officers who owed me favors. Some I had saved. Some I had blackmail on. Others simply knew that when I called, it wasn't a request.
The first to answer was Elias Kosta, a former black ops commander who had once led a unit that technically didn't exist. He had seen things most men would drink themselves into oblivion to forget. When I met him, he was running high-level security for a private defense firm in Europe.
"Dean," Elias said as he stepped into the dimly lit meeting room, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings before settling on me. "Didn't think I'd hear from you again."
"I need people," I said. "The best."
He leaned back in his chair, studying me. "For what?"
"A military force," I said. "Legitimate. Recognized. Capable of handling anything the world throws at it."
Elias smirked. "You always did think big."
"This isn't about power," I told him. "It's about protection. My family."
His expression turned unreadable. "Your brother?"
"And my child," I said. "Riley's pregnant."
Elias let out a short breath, shaking his head. "Didn't see that coming." He was silent for a moment, then leaned forward. "I'm in."
I studied him. "Just like that?"
"You saved my life, Dean," he said. "More than once. I don't give a damn about your brother, and I don't know this Riley woman. But you? You're the reason I'm still breathing. And if this is what you need, I'm in."
I nodded. "Then prove it. Help me build this right."
Next came Petra Vasquez, a tactical strategist with a mind sharper than most supercomputers. She had worked for multiple intelligence agencies before she decided she was better off without their politics. When I called, she showed up. No questions asked.
"You're really doing this?" she asked, crossing her arms as she leaned against the wall.
"Yes," I said.
She raised a brow. "Not just another ghost operation? No back doors, no secret failsafe to burn it all down?"
"No," I said. "Not this time. But if it comes to it, then yeah, the world will burn."
She nodded slowly. "I'll help. But let's be clear I'm here for you, Dean. Not your family. Not your brother. You."
I met her gaze. "Then do this for me. Protect my child."
Something flickered in her expression respect, maybe. "Alright," she said. "But I hope you know what you're doing."
"I do," I said. "And I'll prove it."
Building an army wasn't just about gathering soldiers. It was about infrastructure. Logistics. Funding. Weapons. Training.
I spent weeks securing land for facilities undisclosed locations where my people could train, develop strategies, and store high-grade weaponry. I leveraged my global security network, calling in favors from arms dealers and defense contractors. I used old contacts in governments that still owed me, ensuring we'd have legitimate contracts that would give us jurisdiction where needed.
Not everything went smoothly. Some politicians pushed back. Corporations wanted a piece of what I was building. Rivals tried to sabotage the foundation before it could take shape.
I made examples of them.
Nothing overt. Nothing traceable. Just subtle reminders that crossing me was a mistake.
Word spread quickly. Deals were made. Resources secured. My force was coming together.
But the biggest challenge? Balancing it all.
Riley kept me grounded. She made sure I didn't lose sight of why I was doing this.
One night, after a long day of negotiations, I returned to the safe house where she was staying. She was sitting on the couch, a hand resting on her stomach, lost in thought.
"You okay?" I asked.
She looked up, offering a small smile. "I should be asking you that."
I sat down beside her. "It's coming together. Slowly, but it's happening."
She studied me for a moment. "And you? Are you still in this for the right reasons?"
I met her gaze. "You and our child are my priority, Riley. Everything I'm buildingit's so we don't have to live in the dark. So I can protect you the right way."
She exhaled, nodding. "I just, I don't want to wake up one day and realize you've become something you never wanted to be."
I reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I won't. I promise."
She searched my face and then nodded. "Alright. Then let's build this."
I kissed her forehead, my decision set.
This wasn't just about power. It was about family.
And I'd do whatever it took to protect them.