Page 88 of Corrupted Heir (Mafia Kings: Corrupted 1)

I couldn’t imagine what it was like to be smack-dab in the middle of the fight outside. Even from my bedroom, the sound of every shot jolted through my body. An explosion went off somewhere on the property, and it spooked me so much that I crawled into the corner of the room.

“You remind me so much of your mother,” my father said suddenly. “That’s why it’s so hard…”

His voice cracked again.

“She was a real fighter. She fought for the people who were important to her, and she loved with all her heart. She loved giving gifts… I wasn’t always the best husband,” he said, his voice had grown thicker like it was clogged with tears. “Your mother gave so much. I never understood how she did it and never seemed to run out.”

“That’s beautiful.” I chewed on my bottom lip, trying to focus on my father’s voice, not the crack of gunshots beyond the bedroom door. Not the screaming and shouting.

“That’s you, Fallon. You’re just like her.”

“I’m sorry I’ve always been so hard on you. I should have—”

“No, don’t you apologize, baby girl. I’m the one who should be apologizing. You deserved so much better. I fell hard when your mother died. I got so caught up in my own grief.”

“It’s okay, Daddy,” I choked out.

I didn’t want him to apologize, that wasn’t why I’d called.

“Your mother was one hell of a fine cook,” he said.

I smiled through my tears. For the first time in so long, I felt like he understood what I needed. Not apologies, just his voice.

“Her lasagna, woah, boy,” he said. “Now that was a work of perfection.”

I could hear a car horn behind my father’s voice, but it was muffled. He was no longer outside.

“Daddy? What are you doing?”

“I’m proud of you baby girl. Everything’s going to be okay. You just hold on, you understand me?”

Oh no.He wasn’t outside because he was in his car.

“Daddy, don’t. You can’t.”

“There was that time you, me, and your mom went to the lake up north. Do you remember that? The first time I showed you how to fish?”

I did remember that, just vaguely.

“I knew right then you were going to work with animals when you grew up.”

“Because I wouldn’t let you kill the fish,” I whispered.

Another explosion sounded, closer than the last. Too close. I could hear the heavy thud of footsteps on the stairs. Luca men? Nova men? I huddled in the corner, pressing my back against the wall, wishing it could swallow me up.

“Dad… I…” I started, but I didn’t even know what to say. Tears streamed down my face.

“Just a little longer, baby girl.”

But I feared it was already too late.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Dominic

“What the fuck is going on?” I roared over the gunfire. “Can someone tell me what we’re dealing with?”

“Dozens of Tony’s men have broken through the property line. They’re scaling the walls,” Leo said as we rushed to the armory. It was difficult not bumping into people along the way as everyone frantically moved around the house to prepare for the hell that was coming at us.

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