Chapter 2

At the family council that night, Blair made an announcement.

"Anna has guarded our docks for seven years. She's taken bullets and blades for me."

"Once we're married, I don't want her burdened by ledgers, routes, and danger anymore. She is my fiance. She shouldn't have to live in the trenches."

His expression softened. "So for now, I'm transferring control of Anna's three shipping lanes to Lily."

"Lily will be the owner of record, but I'll personally oversee everything. After the wedding, I'll restructure Anna's holdings myself. She'll still have a place at the top of this family."

The room fell silent.

Mario recovered first. "It's a sensible arrangement. Anna will soon be Blair's wife. Putting the routes in Lily's name for now keeps Anna out of sight and off our enemies' radar."

Several of the capos exchanged glances, then nodded.

"If Blair is supervising, nothing can go wrong."

"Anna has earned a rest after all these years."

"As long as the routes stay operational, Blair can arrange the rest as he sees fit."

Lily jumped to her feet, wearing a look of alarm. "No, Blair. I can't accept this."

"Anna nearly died winning those routes. How could I take them from her? Besides, I know nothing about the business. What if I ruin everything? Anna will be furious."

Blair pressed her gently back into her chair. "Don't worry. I'll be there."

"What belongs to Anna belongs to the family. She's my fiance now. Her role has changed. She doesn't need to get her own hands dirty anymore."

"You're only sharing the burden until the wedding. After that, I'll give Anna something even more important."

He spoke as if stripping me of everything I had built were an act of devotion.

Those routes had cost my people blood and nearly cost me my life. They were the foundation of every ounce of power I held in the family.

Blair turned to me. His voice was gentle, but the warning in his eyes was unmistakable.

"You don't object, do you, Anna?"

"Once we're married, you'll never have to touch this dirty work again. All you need to do is be my wife."

He knew exactly what he was taking from me.

He simply believed a few sweet promises after the wedding would make me swallow the humiliation.

Without expression, I slid a stack of documents toward Lily.

"These contain the basic route clearances, port credentials, and account summaries for all three lanes."

"Sign them, Lily."

Blair stared. He had not expected me to surrender so easily, and every argument he had prepared died in his throat.

Greed flashed in Lily's eyes, though she quickly lowered them. "Then I'll hold them for Anna. Just for a little while."

Blair patted my shoulder. "Don't worry. After the wedding, I'll make this up to you. I won't let your work for the family go unrewarded."

He pulled out the brass pin issued to low-level associates and pressed it into my palm.

"Keep this for now. It will make it easier for you to move around the estate. Meet me in the study after the council adjourns."

I closed my fist until the pin's sharp edge broke my skin.

Seven years of sacrifice, and he thought he could buy me out with a piece of brass.

"Thank you, Blair."

I lowered my gaze before he could see the ice in it.

He noticed nothing. He thought I had submitted.

When the meeting ended, I ignored his order and left the house. Beside the fountain, I made a call.

The man who answered sounded relieved. "Boss."

I looked into the night. "Is it done?"

"All of it. The root keys are locked, and the backup servers have been moved. The documents Blair received are worthless. Give the word, and every cargo ship on those routes will go dead."

I smiled. "Good. Tell our people to break into small teams and leave Lacey territory."

"Yes, Boss. What about you?"

"Don't worry about me."