-Makidi-building his empire, commanding respect, and gaining loyalty. I wanted to be just like him, to take my place beside him

my father looked at him, teaching him the things I'd spent years trying to learn myself. It was as if Makidi saw something in Jimmy that he didn't see in me.

iskey burned down my throat. I needed answers, and I knew the only person who could give them to me was Mande. She had always been

e looked up when I entered, her eyes immediately wary. She must have

low, "I need to know somet

s, her face going pale. "What is it, Nicholas?" she as

eling myself. "Is Makidi.

I didn't need her to. The silence told me everything. Finally,

tion sank in. All this time, all those years of trying to prove myself to him, of bein

changed. I didn't care about the rules, didn't care about playing the dutiful son. If I wasn't truly h

k to him, and I wanted it to. I wanted Makidi to know that I wouldn't be ignored or pushed

t he never did. He just watched, his eyes full of something I couldn't quite name, something that only made m

respect I deserved, I'd take it. One way or another, I'd make