the hour. Black luxury vehicles lined the curved driveway, with their drivers standing at at

he restaurant floor, his blood oozing between her fingers as she cradled him. The police questioning had been brutal-Detective Car

it. The metal remained heated As if she were holding some lingering element of h

lood c

her to the front door. Her father's blood remained soiled her blouse beneath her jacket,

ous oak door with red-rimmed eyes. "Miss Sophia," he sa

nquired, her voice calm despite t

id it was protocol when the

phia straightened her shoulders and entered the mansion that had on

ers, and family members. Uncle Vincent stood in the center of the room, his huge body dressed immaculately despite the late hour. W

in a gesture of familial warmth. "You should

usiness, exactly, couldn't wait

t room. Several of the senior capo

rs are critical." He motioned to the exquisite seats arranged in a loose semicircle. "Dominick is on his way w

genuine grief. Others calculated and assessed. Her attention fell on her cousin, Bianca, who was stan

ophia murmured, staring at

"Of course." "Your old room

where her bedroom had been, remained eerily unchanged-a museum of her previous life. Inside her room, designe

e for both sadness and power. As she changed, the paper containing

is the key.

t him killed? And who could she trust, given her

iere and attorney for the past thirty years, had arrived. His normally impeccable appearance

every feature of his face. "I arrived as soon as I

it a professional hit

eyes darkene

ticularly interested in whe

against your father for years." Domi

s throat loudly. "Now that everyone's here, perh

face the assembled family members and associates. "Antonio made precaut

advise we act fast to ensure leadership continuity.The othe

ominick answered, taking the briefcase from his son and placing it on Sophia's

ldly. "Then let's

ted her father's admissions about his preparations for her to take over yesterday. Unle

nsignia in wax. "This will was amended three months ago, as witne

the seal and pulled several pages of formal legal

und mind, do hereby bequeath my asse

ts, and goods left to family members. She inherits her mother's jewelry collection.

ntly. "Skip to the rele

Ricci family business interests, both legitimate and otherwise," he said, his voice echoing through the qu

ward slightly, adj

ter, Sophia

voices. Vincent's expression shifted fro

inick. "Let me see that!" He took the document, exa

d calmly, recovering the will. "Antonio was qu

ies will never respect us. "We will lose everything!" Anothe

rsity while we've been doing t

ion. "This is absurd!" Antonio must have been coerced. Or i

personal seal," Dominick explained coldly. "Jud

nded, turning to Sophia. "Do you even understand our territorial boundaries?

evant here. In this world, respect was earned via knowledge, power, and ruthlessness.

ants us exclusive access to shipping contracts through Calumet Harbor in exchange for distribution through our transportation businesse

her comments. Even Vincen

e, a little smile on her lips. "My cousi

immediately. "Experience matters. Respect does. I've been standing a

ominick added. "And his w

ing about survival! The Salvatores will perceive this as a weakness

whispered th

id. "The execution took place at his restaurant. Perhaps, before we argu

unned the ro

Vincent said blu

utral. "Father revealed his succession plans to me yesterday,

d dangerously. "What ex

eeting his stare unflinchingly. "I'm only maki

our blood?" Vincent's voice lowered to

m eager to ta

. Vincent's hand jerked toward his jacket, where Sophi

u're walking into, little

dea a

xcuse me. There is a police detective at the front gat

trol. "What about the police? Now? Tell him we're gathering as

im to come," Sophia replied

voice. "Are you insane?" "Bringing

estions concerning my father's death, which I'd like to address rig

em. Vincent's eyes reddened with barely h

ed into still water. Uncomfortable ripples spread among the assembled family members.The detecti

cious. "I apologize for interrupting your family's grieving, but there are

responded. "We're all eager to

ate?" Carter offered, his gaze moving signi

"Anything you need to ask my niece, you can ask in front of th

Ricci?" Because, according to our preliminary findings, se

tillness descend

," Sophia murmured, disregarding Vincen

r uncle would not tolerate this challenge to his power. The will designating her as succ

s study, the same area where he had just divulged his secrets t

ime of your attack. Your father's appointment with the Salvatore family was scheduled

"They told me to meet at Bellissimo. "When

t present when the shooting

cusing me of

er had an important meeting that required him to change sites at the last minute. Someone he trusted enoug

oor opened. Vincent entered without k

have any further questions," Dominic said firmly. "The family has jus

interesting at the crime scene."He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a little evidence bag. Inside was a silver button w

flowing cold. She recognized the crest r

tore famil

ened. "Where exactly

plained quietly. "Almost as if he pulled it fr

h sentence. If the Salvatores had ordered th

Dominic stated calmly. "We'll be sure to contact you if

need a formal statement from you tomorrow. In the meantime," he handed her his card, "co

s voice a deadly whisper. "This doesn't change anything. "Th

therwise," she ex

at's coming," Vincent growled. "The Salvat

e Salvatores are responsible," says Sop

playing a deadly game, niece. O

me for this moment, whether I knew it or not." "Then prove it," he said. "The capos are waiting for the leader.

ed him to the door

hem. The anxiety at the conference was apparent, with de

upport that was not overlooked by the others. Dominic

he Salvatore family," Sophia declared, her voice stronger tha

around the room

k hard," Paolo state

capo concurred. "Befo

ainst their shipping interests. It's where they're most vul

pronouncement, Vincent already commanded the roo

lly served her father for decades. Men who now regarded her with susp

ed the wall above the fireplace. The first Ricci to establish authority

ood can

e stated

sation sto

ncredulously. "What

, causing everyone to look at her. "My father was executed hours ago, and we

ed?" Dominick questioned, a tho

war with the Salvatores," Sophia said to him. "

aid. "Antonio would never hesi

ss player, not a street brawler." He showed me

s appropriate to his position. We will demonstrate strength via unity and di

eakness?" Paolo challenged. "I

th such overwhelming force that no family in Chicago wi

e room. She could feel them measuri

daughter, but because I see what others don't. The button is overly obvious. This entire scenario-separating me from m

an inside job?" Domi

we know everything," Sophia said, echoing he

into something inscrutable. "Uncle, I will require f

rossed his face before fading beneath a

operations as usual." No one advances against the Sal

h as a reluctant interest. Perhaps Antonio

ve bought yourself some time with those kind words, niece. But wo

information will. And I plan to have p

nd this: in our world, respect is not given. It's taken. Sometimes with force." "I'm well aware," she said. "That is why I

ffened. "You dare q

ia murmured, holding his eyes inten

r conversation. As family members exited the great h

ibly stupid," her cousin remarked. "Vincent

veness," Sophia responded.

as the last person to conduct an in-depth investigation

d swiftly

rgentina," Bianca explained. "But Franco had be

fit into place. Three months

phone vibrated with a text m

ained a second set of books. Storage unit 273 on Lincoln

could explain everything-who wanted her father dead, who was betrayin

t could al

t no

nt it was aware of both the concealed financial records and her father's trust in her. B

he should fi