years ea

y," my father said, his voice steady and final. And just li

o that. I'

quarters, surrounded by men wh

our preparation starts now. This is your tutor. He will teac

y thin, and completely bald. He looke

ed, that truth only hardened. I was twelve when she passed away from a malignant tumor

s I could remember, and when I was sent to New York, she came with me. S

refusal. The title was inherited, not earned, and eventually I accepted that fighting it was pointless. Instead, I tra

verything for you. But

dition, H

rom that moment on, you take control." He pointed

need to prepare someon

ever say any o

ing is passed down by blood, you do not a

years

trol mattered to me. Things happened when I decided they would, especially when it came to women. I never learned how to charm anyone. If I wanted something,

ed ever

by side. Eric loved the mafia life. Travel excited him, and danger never seemed to faze him. I, on the other hand, built a different kind of power. I worked at a law firm in New York, managed i

as possible. I believed that blending in was the onl

g the Andrade family had exploded midair. The timing unsettled me. Their deaths cam

tail about the Andrade family, speaking in fragments and half truths, but now there was

dra stood waiting at the mansion e

," I murmured as I wrappe

awhile this time. More

a long sigh. "All I can think about is f

y as she walked beside me toward the offic

hing else, I need to understa

sitating. "A letter came for Eric. This

se crept in. There was n

folded the two pages inside,

chance to watch our little girl grow into a woman. Since life and business showed us no mercy, I trust you will honor our agr

e hell i

s it, m

d for the second sheet tu

daughter. Divorce would only be allowed after she finished college or once she turned 25. In the event of his death, he was obligat

of dealings had Eric been involved in? And how

htened. He had named me as the trusted party. I could hard

at secret Eric was protecting, and risking expos

ndr

, my

heard of the

t from time to time. He a

riendship did not align with t

mention hav

Eric should marry h

, rubbing at my temples as th

ying for din

time to think." I pressed a kiss t

fore arriving, and she never forgot a single detail. She was the only person who kne

e and called Guilherme. If anyone could untan

lher

ted trouble are you

married," I

did the impossible?" There was

to do with love.

expl

do not have all the details yet

knowing the

ed to marry

? You know you cannot marry outside t

tone. "There will be a marriage, but I want no attention, no press, no spectacle. I

absolutel

years are over, I wi

will speak

is Br

r represen

"And I do not want to know her name either.

ew in a breath. He understood exactly what that silence meant. "Eric warned me. I was onl

was I ne

te. My loyalty to my

hen discretion was exactly why I valued Guilherme's w

from me immed

arrived containing the finalized certificate, already signed by her. A photograph had been included with the documents, but I left it untouched.

est and most sensible option, and her presence would be good for

ss took me back to New York, I stayed at a differe

the girl caused no problems. She preferred staying at home and performed exceptionally well in college. I knew beca

emained out of reach. I chased down a few possibi

ent

ong flight, and exhaustion settled

en I noticed someone waiting for me. Bru

t it could not wait?" I snapped. I ha

aid, clearly uncomfortable. "But Mr

ost her mind? There are still four yea

d, sir, but

out of the question. I had too little information about what really happ

ill empty handed. I had uncovered fragments, elimina

y someone else," Bruno snee

ink she is?" My fist s

he

sider it." Bruno froze, clearly shocked. "But tell her thi

refuses to

our marriage had never been real. Just hours earlier, I had left my private jet and the temporary company I allowed

uth. Bruno muttered something under his breath,

room. I stretched out on the bed, the

at the screen and saw Thiago's name,

ng alrigh

the reason

de it back

uickly information tr

iving? Being a detective has its

h up over a drin

uled for surgery fi

long enough to know he never d

ou should h

ated before continuing, "That's why I was thinking of

M

, and I have no idea how long I'll be away." He exhaled slowly. "I'm tired of only remov

ed since Eric died, and we were still grasping at shadows. Hen

ff, everything. I already cleared it wit

offed. "Does a Ca

ntangle this. While Hendrick was handlin

ed, leaning back into the armcha

ndations," Thiago added, laugh

at

each a class at C

you're pu

ourses. You've alway

n a necessity. Someone had to understand the rules well enough

there are some very

ad always been worse than

e the d

ady d

ep me in

way

A moment later, I poured myself a generous glass of w

York, and the problems

what she was like now. Who she wanted to marry. I had never wanted to meet her face to face. When the papers were signed, she had been far too young, and I had