ella

klyn was replaced by the suffocating opul

rs, while heavily armed Soldiers patrolled the perimeter. On one side, terrified Associates like my father, Arturo, stood in a tense line for the grueling Annua

g my eyes downcast, when the sharp c

crossed her arms, her eyes flashing with spite. "Refusing the Velasquez match was t

stood Kiana

n who had locked me in a lightless cell, the woman who had laughed while telling me my mother died of a broken he

her chin raised in arrogant superiority. "You should be on your knees thanking us for even considering your filthy bloodline. But it doesn't

squeeze until her eyes bulged. Instead, I caught

had just

n my father's lifetime earnings. She was Old Money-the granddaughter of the Graham family and the

of trembling reverence, and raised my voice j

h your family's immense power and your undeniably noble bloodline, the Underboss will

t their mark

er piercing blue eyes snapped toward us,

arting the crowd like the Red Sea. "The Velasquez family are nothing but nouveau riche thugs who cook their casi

cade crumbling instantly. "L

ne. "She was just putting this As

ianca like a dead insect. "Speak again, and I'll have my g

ine, Kiana and Bianca didn't dare utter another word. Faces flushed

e confrontation. I shrank back against the pillar, my shoulders trembling, l

fed softly, lost interest, and walked away toward

lips. The seed of hatred between Kiana and the mo

ge and descended into the shadows of the underground garage to wait f

crates after being berated by a Capo. I knew from my past life tha

ded him a thick envelope of cash, al

is surprised gaze. "The eldest son in the whee

gave a curt nod, and pocketed the

hat letter contained the financial trails of Elzada's embezzlement and the proof of he

was out, we would use our meager savings to bribe the lower clerks, bury my name at th