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Dominic passed his usual spot in line, going right up to Lucifer’s desk and dropping the dead body he carried in with a hard thud onto the paved floor. Then Dom turned, taking his place right in the middle of the front of the line.

Slowly, Lucifer stood, leaning over his desk and looking at the lifeless man. Then he slowly sat back down.

The man by Lucifer’s side had gone pale, as white as his eyes that looked toward the door for escape.

“Try it, and I promise your death will be painful.” Lucifer didn’t even have to look at him to know what he was planning. He continued in his cold voice, “Now stand in front of me and tell me why I should show you mercy.”

Gino shakily left the Luciano boss’s side and went around the desk to face him. “I-I-I tried everything I could to find him, but I knew if I didn’t tell you I took him out soon, you would …” He gulped as clear images came to his mind. Gino, who had started out brave, now begged on his knees as he stammered on, “I swear to you, I was going to kill him! You were never supposed to find out, and it was going to be like nothing ever happened once I found where he was hiding. Please, Lucifer, I beg of you, demote me or cut off my fucking hand, but please just show me mercy!”

Lucifer was silent for a moment. Then his voice was not as cold when he spoke. “I’ll give you mercy, Gino.”

“Thank you!” Gino’s tears turned into ones of relief as he brought his hands together in prayer while he stood back up to take his coming punishment like a man. “Thank you, Lucifer.”

“Well, I might give you mercy,” Lucifer began as he folded his hands before him, his long fingers interlocking, “but my son will not.”

Dominic took a step forward, out of the line. Then, marching to the front of Lucifer’s desk, he stepped over the dead body he brought in of an undercover cop trying to end both mafia families of Kansas City.

Gino didn’t even dare run, but his cries and eyes pleaded with the devil’s son for mercy when he stood in front of him. “Please, Dom, show me mer—”

In a flash of light, Dominic took the dagger off his father’s desk that every Luciano made man, including himself, had used to give their blood oath as they spoke the Omertà. It took only another flash of light for the dagger to meet Gino’s neck. His hazel eyes watched the life slowly leave Gino’s eyes as Dom swept the blade across his skin. The blood flowed down his neck, covering the front of his white, buttoned-up shirt and stained the gray concrete black when a puddle began to form. Dom put the old antique back in its place before Gino’s body fell to the floor.

“Lucianos”—Lucifer slowly rose, presenting with his hands out wide, his proud voice echoing once more throughout the warehouse—“meet your new … underboss.”

Dominic turned to face the Luciano men as, one by one, they lowered their heads and bowed. As the last one displayed his respect, Dom walked to the spot Gino had once stood, taking his place at Lucifer’s side. He looked out at the men from his new position before he slowly looked to the side to see his father on the throne.

You’re next.

Sixteen

Lucca, Angel, and Drago

Dominic, Age 28

The second Dominic’s phone rang, he answered it, not having to speak before his father’s voice came through the line.

“Get everyone to the Switzerland warehouse now.”

When the beep met his ears, Dominic’s hair stood up on his arms, instinctively knowing that today was the day. He quickly put his matte black Glock, the one his father had gifted him with after becoming the underboss, back together in ten seconds.

“Kat, get back down to the basement, and if you don’t hear the special knock, you hide under the bed,” Dominic told his sister who was no longer little anymore, as they had just celebrated her eighteenth birthday with donuts.

Looking to his youngest brother when Kat hurried to the basement, he gave him clear instructions. “Cass, get the duffle out of the closet and load it up with the money on the table. Watch the window, and if any car other than mine pulls up, get Kat and sneak out the back. Put as many miles as you can between you and this city and don’t ever fucking come back. Do the same if I don’t text you our codeword in three hours.”

Cassius nodded before disappearing into the hallway to go get the duffle bag.

“What is it?” Angel asked on behalf of both twins who stood antsy nearby.

“It’s time,” Dominic said, putting the Glock behind his back. “Suit up.”