Page 6

Demi

T he whiskey burned as it slid down my throat, a familiar comfort in the dimly lit study of my family’s mansion.

It wasn’t even noon yet, and I already felt the need to drink.

I set the crystal tumbler down on my father’s mahogany desk with a soft clink, bracing myself for the conversation ahead as soon as he ended his phone call.

Finally, he hung up and turned his attention to me. “Hi, princess.” He greeted me with a heavy sigh, signaling that he was stressed.

“Is everything okay, Daddy?”

“No, but it will be soon. I just need to have one of my men handle Councilman Reed, or I’ll hop on a plane and pay his ass a visit myself.”

“Plane? Is he not here in Chicago?” I probed.

“He’s vacationing with one of his whores in Cancun this weekend,” my father informed me.

My heart skipped a beat. “Oh, really?”

“Yeah. The greedy son of a bitch is demanding more money to keep our smuggling operations under wraps. I’m over here working double-time to ensure we’re good, while he’s relaxing on a beach sippin’ Mai Tais and fucking his mistress. One wrong move and our entire empire could crumble.”

“I can handle Councilman Reed, Daddy,” I asserted, meeting my father’s icy gaze. “I’m leaving for Cancun tonight to go to Samara’s cousin’s wedding. Since I’ll already be there, let me prove I’m more than just a pretty face to be bartered away in your deals.”

My father, the infamous mafia boss of Chicago, leaned back in his leather chair, his cocoa brown face emotionless and tough as nails. “And why should I trust you with such a delicate matter, Demi? This isn’t some pretty little charity gala or social event.”

I bristled at his dismissive tone, but I kept my voice steady. “I’ve been by your side for years, learning the ins and outs of this business. I know how to read people and how to negotiate. I’m not some naive little girl anymore.”

“No.” He agreed as his chocolate brown eyes narrowed. “But you’re still my daughter, and this world is dangerous. I won’t risk your safety.”

“My safety?” I scoffed as I stood up and paced the room.

The Persian rug muffled my footsteps as I moved.

“I’ve been in danger since the day I was born into this family.

At least let me use that danger for something worthwhile.

Let me prove my value beyond being a shiny bargaining chip in your alliances. ”

My father’s expression softened slightly, and I saw a flicker of something in his eyes. Pride, perhaps? Or acceptance? “You’ve always been stubborn, just like your mother,” he muttered.

I pressed my advantage, being sure to keep my foot on the gas while I could. “Exactly. And you know I won’t back down from this. So, you might as well let me handle it officially rather than risk me going behind your back.”

He chuckled darkly. “Is that a threat, princess?”

“It’s a promise,” I replied, meeting his gaze unflinchingly. “I’m a Malone, after all. We don’t make idle threats. Isn’t that what you taught me?”

For a long moment, the only sound in the room was the ticking of the antique clock on the mantle. I held my breath, waiting for his decision.

Finally, he sighed. “Fine. You can meet with Reed. I’ll set up the meeting and send you the details. But Dominic goes with you as backup, and you follow my instructions to the letter. Understood?”

Relief and excitement coursed through me, but I kept my expression neutral. “Crystal clear,” I answered with a nod, already planning my approach.

“Don’t make me regret this, Demi,” my father warned. “Benjamin Reed is a greedy mothafucka, but he’s got connections. We need him in our pocket, but we can’t let him bleed us dry either.”

“I won’t let you down, Daddy,” I promised, meaning every word. This is my chance to show him—to show everyone—that I’m more than just Cyrus Malone’s daughter. I’m a force to be reckoned with.

My father reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a thick manila envelope. “Here’s everything you need to know about Reed—his financials, his dirty little secrets, potential leverage points. Study it carefully and recall it to memory.”

I took the envelope, feeling its weight in my hands. It was more than just paper; it was an opportunity, a test, a chance to reshape my destiny.

“Thank you, Daddy,” I acknowledged softly. “I won’t disappoint you.”

He nodded then turned back to the papers on his desk, effectively dismissing me. As I reached the door, his voice stopped me. “Demi?”

I turned with one hand on the doorknob. “Yes?”

For a moment, I saw a glimpse of the father I remembered from my childhood—before the responsibilities of the family business hardened him and his heart to stone. “Be careful,” he said quietly.

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. “I will.”

As soon as the study door closed behind me, I pulled out my phone to text Samara the news.

Me: Mexico is a go. I’ll see you later tonight.

The next nine hours flew by in a blur of preparation.

Dominic and I traveled separately from Samara and the rest of the girls, to fly in and handle my father’s business dealings first before getting to pleasure.

I packed for my trip while poring over the files my father gave me and memorizing every detail about Councilman Benjamin Reed—his favorite restaurants, his gambling debts, even the mistress he’d been keeping on the side.

I practiced my negotiation tactics in the mirror and on the private jet, perfecting the balance between charm and blade that I’d need to bring him to his knees and make him kiss the ring.

After landing in Cancun, I stood before the full-length mirror scrutinizing my reflection.

The obsidian black dress I wore hugged my curves, projecting an image of sophisticated elegance.

My long, jet-black hair was swept up in an intricate updo, exposing the warm caramel column of my neck.

Diamond studs glittered in my ears—a gift from my father on my eighteenth birthday.

I applied a final coat of deep red lipstick, the color of fresh blood.

It was fitting, given what I was about to do.

“You ready, Demi?” Dominic’s gruff voice came from the doorway. “We need to be there in thirty minutes.”

I turned to face our family’s most trusted bodyguard with a slight smirk playing on my lips. “Born ready, D. Let’s go put the fear of God into this mothafucka.”

When I stepped off the jet, there was nothing but dirt and desert for as far as my eyes could see. My father arranged to have us picked up from the airport and carried directly to the meeting point with Councilman Reed.

The drive to the restaurant was tense with anticipation. I went over the plan in my head one last time, envisioning every possible scenario. Dominic’s presence in the car was reassuring—a solid, dependable anchor in the storm I was about to unleash.

“Remember,” I said as we pulled up to the valet stand, “you’re just here as a precaution. I need to handle this on my own.”

Dominic grunted in acknowledgment, his eyes scanning the area for potential threats. “I’ll be at the bar if you need me. Don’t hesitate to give the signal if things go south.”

I nodded, taking a deep breath to center myself. “It won’t come to that. But thank you.”

As I stepped out of the tinted black SUV, I felt the weight of expectations settle on my shoulders.

This wasn’t just about proving myself to my father anymore.

It was about carving out my place in the dangerous world I’d been born into and would likely inherit one day.

Everyone knew me as his daughter, but I wanted to be known for so much more than that.

The ma?tre d’ greeted me with a submissive nod, recognizing the power that exuded off me like a scented perfume. I was led to a secluded booth in the back, where Councilman Reed was already seated, nursing a glass of what looked like expensive tequila.

“Miss Malone.” He greeted me, rising to his feet with his lips pinched upward with tension. “What a pleasure to see you here. Up until earlier, I was expecting to meet your father.”

I slid into the booth, my eyes never leaving his. “I’m sure you were, Benjamin. Please sit down. We have so much to discuss.”

As he settled back into his seat, I saw the barely concealed disdain in his chocolate brown eyes. He was underestimating me, just as I’d hoped he would.

“I’ll get straight to the point,” I said. “Your recent demands are unacceptable. We had an agreement, and now you’re trying to change the terms. That doesn’t sit well with my family.”

His expression changed slightly. “Now see here, young lady. The risks I’m taking have increased. It’s only fair that my compensation reflects that.”

I leaned forward, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

“Fair? Let’s talk about fairness, shall we?

How fair would it be if certain photographs of you wining and dining that beautiful young intern from your office were to find their way to your wife or the mayor?

Who am I kidding? Why stop there? Maybe we go straight to the Chicago Times,” I warned with malice.

The color drained from his face. “You’re b-bluffing,” he stammered, but I saw the fear in his eyes.

“Am I?” I pulled out my phone, scrolling through a series of images before turning the screen toward him.

His eyes widened in shock when he saw a recent photo from his Mexico getaway of him and a much younger woman, who wasn’t his wife, French kissing and holding hands on the beach.

“I assure you, Benjamin, this is just a taste of what we have on you.”

As I continued to lay out the evidence we’d gathered—the bribes, the affairs, the embezzlement—I noticed movement from the corner of my eye.

A man seated across the restaurant at a secluded table was watching our exchange with undisguised interest, a smirk playing on his lips as I verbally eviscerated the corrupt official before me.