Chapter 5

Dad comes home from a family meeting, and the number above his head has dropped to nine.

I’m furious.

I need to meet the little heir who keeps shortening Dad’s life.

That same day, the Bellandi family officially recognizes me as Gabriel’s daughter, so Dad takes me to headquarters to meet Ethan.

He’s seven, sitting in a huge leather chair that practically swallows him.

I walk over.

“Move over. That chair’s big enough for you, me, and Dad.”

The old consigliere’s cigar drops from his mouth.

Above Dad’s head, nine flickers into five.

Found the problem.

Ethan really does want Dad dead.

But Ethan calmly scoots over and pats the empty space beside him.

What a little snake.

Dad grabs the back of my coat before I can sit.

“Chloe grew up away from the family. Excuse her manners.”

Ethan smiles.

“Uncle Gabriel, Chloe’s delightful. I like her already.”

He talks like he’s seventeen instead of seven.

Now I feel immature.

I try to find something we have in common.

“Have you ever put a firecracker in a cow pie?”

“No.”

“What about horse poop?”

He shakes his head again.

Poor kid.

Mom says a childhood without blowing up cow pies doesn’t count.

So the next day, I sneak Ethan out.

We spend the afternoon blowing up horse manure.

When I get home, Dad’s countdown has jumped to nineteen.

I beam at Martin.

“Taking Ethan out to blow up poop makes Dad live longer!”

Martin goes pale, presses a hand to his chest, and heads straight for Dad.

I’m grounded.

Dad even assigns Hold On to watch me.

That’s funny.

I hired Hold On myself.