A fresh start?

"Don't spill your drink." Artemis chuckled.

"Well um..." Jacen started, looking around nervously before stepping away from Frankie so he could see everyone properly. "About my replacement."

Alex smiled before sitting up at Jacen's words, he understood this meeting is important.

Dante swallowed softly, he felt nervous,

Jacen hesitated for a moment, brushing a hand through his hair before speaking. "I've thought about it for a while...I think around when Artemis stopped his assassin work... But eventually I decided that with our past experiences it was better to ask someone we know; so I chose someone from this family. ...I chose Dante."

Alex blinked as the words slowly took root in his brain, he looked over where Dante was with Jasper.

Dante knew the whole room was probably staring at him and he leaned a little closer to Jasper.

Frankie slowly went over to Jacen, wrapping a arm around him.

"You...you what?" Artemis said as he looked at his brother, looking somewhere between surprised and annoyed. He put his tea aside before getting up.

Jacen took a step back, half hiding behind Frankie when he saw the look on Artemis' face.

"What if he gets hurt? This- you're going to make him more of a target than he was just for being your nephew!"

Frankie reached back to hold Jacen's hand, knowing he was nervous now.

Dante bit his lip before going over to his father, "Daddy... I'll be fine... I've got Jasper... And you and papa..." He said softly as he touched his father's arm.

"But you've already been through so much..." Artemis said quietly, having calmed down a little.

"I know, but we've got to do what's good for the family dad... And I'm the only one that's could take it over that's family... Aly and the little ones are too young and Dom isn't really suited for it." Dante said softly, "I know it will probably be harder, but this also means I can help the family."

"I guess so..." Artemis said, slowly nodding.

"It's not like we won't be here to help if he needs it." Jasper said, moving closer to hug Dante. "...how is your cousin not suited to it by the way?" He asked, never having actually known what Dominic did as a job.

Dante hugged Jasper back relaxing against him, he was glad he was being supportive. "Its not cause of his job or anything like that... Being around his boss all the time would probably help I would like to think..." He said softly to Jasper, "Its the drug using... He doesn't do it that often anymore, but I know he does sometimes..." He explained before stopping as Alex hugged him from behind.

"I'm not happy at how much danger this is adding little one... But I protect you the very best I can." Alex said, his voice almost soft.

"Oh...right." Jasper said, nodding. "That probably doesn't help much, especially if he had to make important choices."

Artemis watched them for a moment before sitting back down, slowly nodding.

Dante nodded slowly.

Alex sighed before going back over to Artemis and curling close.

Frankie looked at Jacen, "Any... Idea how the other boss's will react?"

Artemis smiled a little, wrapping his arms around Alex.

"Not really..." Jacen said, frowning. "We'll have to have meetings with all the ones we work with."

Alex slowly relaxed, "We'll be able to protect him right?" He asked softly.

Dante looked at Jasper, "Should we tell the twins and Soren?"

Frankie nodded, "Yes... Probably the James's should be on that list as well..."

Artemis nodded. "We'll make sure we do."

"Probably, yeah."

"Of course," Jacen responded. "No need to give them a reason to be annoyed." he said jokingly.

Alex nodded and leaned his head on Artemis's shoulder, "I can't help but worry..."

Dante nodded and took Jasper's hand.

Frankie chuckled softly, "I don't think they'd be too annoyed."

Artemis frowned and nodded. "I know..."

"And others who will now be working for you." Jasper added.

"I know, I know."

Alex looked over at Dante, "Is he ready for this Arty?"

Dante nodded, "I want to tell the little ones first Jasper..."

Frankie smiled, "We should get him ready for the big meeting in a few weeks."

"I hope so..." Artemis said quietly.

Jasper nodded. "Alright."

"We will," Jacen said. "Not just yet though."

Alex nodded slowly and curled close to Artemis.

Dante took his hand and headed from the room.

Frankie nodded.

"I'll still be here to help Dante," Jacen said to them. "Its not like he'll be on his own."

Jasper smiled as they walked, looking out to make sure they didn't accidentally pass them.

Frankie nodded, "We'll all be here to help him."

Dante smiled when he saw the twins and Soren in the garden and he started out there.

Jacen smiled and nodded. "Definitely."

"What are they doing?" Jasper asked when he saw them.

Alex smiled softly before looking at Artemis, "We should maybe train Jasper to be his bodyguard..."

"Looks like Kari is drawing, Soren is texting and I have no idea about Cole..." Dante answered.

"Oh! ...you think so?" Artemis asked, not having thought of it.

"Not sure." Jasper said, shrugging his shoulders.