My name is Evelyn Parker, and invisibility had kept me alive. At Vale Holdings, I wore charcoal slacks, beige cardigans, low black shoes, and my hair pinned into the same plain knot every morning. People thought I was nervous.

The quiet diner booth suddenly felt much smaller.

"Don't do that," I warned, pulling my hand back. "Don't pretend there was something romantic between us. You were my boss. A tyrant who demanded his coffee at 8:15 sharp."

"Because at 8:15, you were the only real thing in my entire day!" Adrian snapped, his tone rising slightly before he checked himself. He took a deep breath. "My father is calling a council meeting of the five families for Monday night. He's going to accuse you of stealing the ledger and demand your execution to protect the syndicate."

"Let him try," I said coldly. "The families know my name. They respected my father."

"They respected your father nine years ago," Adrian countered sharply. "Now they respect power and money. My father has both. If he promises them a cut of your father's old territories, they will back him."

I considered his words. He was right. Mob loyalty was a flimsy currency, easily devalued by greed.

"So what are you proposing, Mr. Vale?"

Adrian leaned forward, his face inches from mine. "A coalition. You have the Black Ledger and the moral authority of the Vance name. I have the Vale Holdings distribution network, six hundred armed soldiers, and control of the docks."

"You want to betray your own father?"

"My father built an empire on a dishonorable massacre," Adrian spat, his eyes flashing with real disgust. "He lied to me for a decade. He made me build on top of graves. I want him retired permanently. I take over Vale Holdings officially, clear out the corrupt capos, and you take back the Vance Syndicate territories."

I searched his face, looking for any sign of a double-cross. "And what stops you from putting a bullet in my back the moment your father is handled?"

Adrian reached into his coat pocket. I instantly tensed, my hand slipping inside my purse toward my suppressed pistol.

Instead of a gun, Adrian pulled out a heavy gold signet ring—the official seal of the Vale Family Patriarch—and set it on the table between us.

"Take it," he said simply. "If I betray you, show this to my capos. It legally transfers full voting power of Vale Holdings to the holder. I'm putting my entire life in your hands, Vanya."

I stared at the heavy gold ring glittering under the diner's harsh fluorescent lights.

"Why would you trust me with this?" I whispered.

Adrian looked at me, his gaze fierce and unwavering. "Because for three years, you were the only person in my life who never lied to me. Even when you were hiding your real name, your integrity was real. I'm done fighting you, Parker. I want to fight with you."