Page 108 of Blood in the Water

My entire body went cold. “What do you mean? I’ve never contributed to any of this.”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s you—the Don’s beloved daughter. You’re guilty by association.”

My eyes went wide, everything clicking into place. His rejection of me. My father’s refusal for our marriage. Why my father tried so hard to keep me out of the Family business, even if I got sucked into it anyway.

I was the traitor’s daughter. Nobody would want me.

It was the nature of the mafia. Our twisted brand of honor and reputation. Mistakes weren’t just paid for by the individuals who made them. I was responsible because I was his daughter.

I was ruined because he ruined us.

“Now you understand why your future doesn’t exist.” Slowly, ever so slowly, he pulled his gun from within his jacket. “Your father damned you with every decision he made. And unfortunately, there’s nothing you or I can do about it. That’s the way it is.”

“Even if my father did these things, youknowI had no knowledge.” I stepped back until my legs hit the desk. He prowled around me, shoulders dropped, arms tense. “You know how he sheltered me.”

“The Vero name is dead. Luciano ruinedeverything. Tainted everything. Drugs, trafficking, losing our territory piece by piece.” His voice built with each accusation until he stood exactly where he had stood when he killed my father. My eyes wentto the ground, locked on that bloodstain. I was going to die precisely where my father had died. “I’mtrying to rebuild us. To fix what he broke, just like my father tried to before Luciano killed him. It should have beenmyfather leading the Family.”

My hands trembled as Max lost himself in the tirade, but I could barely keep track of what he was saying. My father killed Max’s? Why? Is that why he hated me so fiercely?

“Can you imagine what we could have become? Who he could have been? There wouldn’t need to be Five Families. Just us.” His attention snapped back to me. “What value areyouexcept for your name? Nothing.”

Everything was crashing down around me. My brain could barely keep up. With every word out of Max’s mouth, my future was being torn apart again. Any hope for my revenge died when I heard what he was saying.

Nobody would ever trust me because of what my father had done.

No soldier would get behind a Family head who would betray them.

No organization would form bonds and partnerships with a tainted Family.

My revenge against Max—my dreams of reclaiming my father’s legacy—died right here in this office, in the same spot where my father had died.

The fight bled out of me.

What was the point?

“So now what?” It didn’t even sound like my voice. It was too quiet, to resigned. Never had I given up on something, except for this.

“You should have killed me earlier. But you’ve always let your feelings dictate your actions.” A cruel smile twisted his face. His gun trained on my heart. “That’s why mine never will.”

I sucked in a breath and closed my eyes.

At least Cas was safe. Wynn and Ciel would help him.

“I loved you,” I whispered as another tear trailed down my face. “So much.”

“I know, Leona,” he said sadly.

Gunshots echoed through the house, and I jerked, expecting to feel the piercing pain—but nothing.

My eyes flew open.

Max stared behind him, momentarily distracted.

More shouts, more shots.

Wynn! Ryuji!

What the fuck was I doing?