The meeting ends with everyone dispersing to do their various duties. Roman’s gestures for me to step forward once the room clears out. It’s only us, Mikey and my dad who has taken a seat on a chair.

“Where were you?”

“Oh you know. Here and there, everywhere,” I reply with a smirk.

His eyes flash. “Now’s not the time for jokes, Tony.”

“There is always time for jokes,” I say soberly.

His jaw twitches. Honestly, it’s a wonder he hasn’t killed me by now. He sure does love me. It’s sweet.

“Anthony,” my dad cautions from his seat behind me.

I sigh softly. “I’m sorry, I was late. I had something to do.”

“What?” Mikey asks curiously.

He doesn’t even look up from the laptop in front of his face as he does.

“You sure you want the details?” I ask. “There was this girl, big tits, brown hair. She did this trick with her tongue-”

“That’s enough,” Roman says with a frown.

My dad lets out a long-suffering sigh and Michael simply rolls his eyes.

“You asked,” I shrug.

“Whatever, I need you to supervise a delivery tonight. Go with the boys and keep them out of trouble.”

I raise my hand in salute, “You got it boss. Oh and don’t wait up for me. I’ll be home late,” I tell them all as I leave.

They don’t question that. I’m sure they think I’m going on a booty call or something like that. Which on another night, I would have. But not tonight.

After doing as ordered and ensuring the delivery goes by without a hitch, I head over to the one place I always manage to feel calm. I can’t help thinking up conspiracy theories. My head won’t shut down and I need everything to go quiet.

As I pull into the parking lot, I catch sight of a woman. Her car’s the first thing that gives me pause. It’s a 1995 Aston Martin which is a really sweet ride. She’s wearing sunglasses and her blonde hair’s in a ponytail. She seems a little familiar. But that’s all I’m able to see of her before she gets into her car and zooms off.

I don’t think much of her, heading into the hotel and straight for the elevator. I have a keycard on hand that grants me access to the rooftop swimming pool. It’s late at night and usually locked but I pulled some strings which allows me some privacy whenever I need it. And I fucking need it right now.

The pool’s turquoise waters beckon to me as soon as I step onto the rooftop. There are elegant lounge chairs to the side, each of them empty. The environment serene. I quickly get change, allowing the quiet air to soothe me for a few seconds before I plunge into the icy cold water.

It’s the middle of January. Too cold for swimming but I don’t have anything else to turn to. Everything goes quiet as soon as I sink into the depths. I stay deep under for several seconds, until I can’t take it anymore. I swim to the surface for a much-needed breath of air.

After, I swim several laps, the feeling in my gut settles slightly. Most people think of me as brash and impulsive and sure I am those things. But when it comes to the really important things. I never do them half assed.

And especially not with this. Slowly a plan forms in my mind. First things first, I need to recruit Mikey. I wouldn’t. But I can’t very well break into dad’s laptop without him. It’s the only place I can get answers.

Secrets have a way of coming out. And my father has had almost fifteen years to keep his.

CHAPTER2

Sophia

My father’s house stands proudly amidst sprawling grounds. Towering columns and elegant balconies. The entrance to the house is framed by a wrought iron gate. It’s all a little ostentatious but it’s also incredible. All he was able to build. Three decades ago he was an Italian man living in decrepit buildings with nothing to his name. And today, he has a formidable empire, And a name that invokes fear into the hearts of those who hear it.

He’s the person I respect the most in the world. Most little girls grow up looking up to their fathers. They see him with hearts in their eyes, innocent, loving. And maybe I did too. But one difference is that while I did grow up looking at him with hearts in my eyes, I also saw him for who he truly is. And my father is not a good man, not by any stretch of the imagination. I knew it when I was an eight-year-old girl. And I know it now as a grown woman.

Both versions of me recognized that in the world there are situations that call for a necessary evil. There’s a Latin phrase I really like ‘flectere si nequeo superis Acheronta morebo’ it loosely translates to, ‘if I cannot make Heaven, I will raise Hell.’