ella

floor of the Franco Estate. It was a sprawling, gilded cage overlooking the gray, churning waters of Lake Michigan.

wasn't until much later I discovered that at least half of them were stuffed with old newspapers and bricks. She had saved face for the *Cosa Nostra* while hoarding the real wealth for herself, and my father,

y loyal maid, slipped into the room, her f

e poison Connor had so carefully planted. Last night-the very night my family bled me dry-Damien Franco had been at *The Gr

y felt a cold, terrifying clarity. Connor had conveniently let this slip to Liam, knowing Liam's temper w

st brother Sean had been beaten to death in the alley behind *The Green Mill*, fighting over that e

Sean, the cold pragmatist, didn't care about my humiliation as long as the Franco alliance held. Liam, the hypocrite, reveled in

n the form of Mrs. Eleanor Reid. My mother's most trusted co

bottom of the list. "They transferred two dilapidated warehouses in the West Loop to your name. They are burdened with e

the heart of Chicago, on Franco territory, toxic assets tied t

pleaded, touching my hand gently. "They have the wealth and

y. "No, Eleanor. We

on Davies's political career, I had anonymously leaked shipping intel that bankrupted my maternal grandfather's fleet. They ha

wanted to tear the Rowlands down to their foundations, I couldn't rely on a husband

sorry for what I did to my mother's family. But