Chapter 01

AVA 

They didn’t knock. The front door flew open, and masked men poured into the house. Before I could begin to grasp what’s happening around me, I was shoved onto the ground, a gun pinning me down. 

A startled scream cut through the air as my sister fell on the ground next to me. The rest of the mask men are on Dad, despite the chaos, I could still make out about five of them. 

“What the fuck is it going to be, Dagger?” Their leader demanded, signaling to his men to pause. 

Dad lets out a disgruntled groan, spitting out blood on the carpet.

“The fucking code, Dagger!” The leader hissed impatiently, sticking out his leg and storming on Dad’s throat with his boot. 

“Please stop!” Mom cried, struggling against the men that restrained her. “Take whatever you want—“ 

Her words trailed off as one of the men retraining her grabbed a hold of her head, forcing back her neck. Seeing this, Dad snapped, attempting to launch at the man but is held back by their leader now applying more pressure on his throat. 

My body jerked impulsively, the need to protect my parents, the need to help. It takes only a second for the man holding me captive to remind me of my place, shoving me back down with the mouth of his gun.  

Lighting lifting his foot off of Dad’s throat, he demanded. “Are you ready to fucking give me what I want?” 

“Let my family go, I’ll fucking give you whatever you fucking want!” Dad cussed, struggling through his words. 

“You seem to be forgetting, Dagger. You’re in no position to fucking make demands! You want me to give the orders to blow off your family? Give me the code right now!”

Behind me, the dude pressed me to the ground, forcing a scream out of my lungs as he pressed the heel of his foot down the back of my neck. Feeling the spike from his boot, I cry out from pain.  

“How about you tell your daddy to cooperate, pretty girl?” He taunts, pressing harder. 

“Fine!” Dad snapped, his voice shaky, 

Hearing the faint sound of steelness buckle, dread filled me. The pain pressing down my neck became a fleeting thought as I became aware of the bigger one looming over me. 

“Please, don’t hurt her. We will cooperate, please.” Mom begged, pressing my little sister to her side, trying to shield her from the men.

A loud piercing noise rings out, and for a solid minute I couldn’t hear anything above the ringing sound in my ears. Something dropped behind me, causing me to turn. My eyes widened at the clean bullet shaped hole on the mask guy forehead, bleeding out in front of me. 

Dad grabbed his weapon, his movement restricted. Before the other guy could react, he fired at him. Another gunshot heading from the entrance went through the man at the same time. 

As the man dropped in front of us, I sat up, looking at the entrance as Don Thame stood majestically there. Several men appeared behind him, bullets raining down as full confrontation began between the two sides. 

Knowing the drill by now, I crawled under the bed. A second later, both Mom and Sophie appeared beside me. We remained there until the sounds died down, and Dad announced it’s safe for us to come out. 

“Is everyone alright?” Aunt Beatrix inquired, standing beside her brother as she blew air into the mouth of her pistol. 

Still suffering from shock, I find myself nodding along with everyone else. 

“Don, how were you able to find out we were under attack?” Dad asked, limping across the room to talk to Don Thane. 

“It was too quiet. I sent a patrol guard to sniff around, he reported the situation back to me. As a family man myself, I apologize greatly for the grievance your family was forced to endure tonight.” 

“This is the second attack in two weeks,” Aunt Beatrix pointed out. “We need to do something Thane.” 

“The world knows not to mess with the Tuhkas, but they don’t know not to mess with the Heavens. You’re my right hand man Dagger. You have proved your loyalty to the Tuhkas family over and over again. It’s time we reward you for it,” Don glanced at his sister, a thin smile appearing on his lip. 

“Mother, Beatrix and I have been discussing this for a while now. It’s time we go ahead with the merge.” 

I frowned, having no clue on what they were talking about. Usually, the adults wouldn’t be having discussions relating to the empire with us. My body slumped on the bed, relief washing over me at the realization that I was truly safe. 

“The merge?” Dad echoes. 

“Yes, between the Tuhkas and the Heavens blood-line. The merge will be announced tomorrow at the heir ceremony—“

As if just realizing Sophie and I are present, Don stopped talking. Using his head, he motions at my Dad and the three of them walk out of the room. 

Left alone with Mom, she immediately pulled my sister and I into a comforting hug. I could feel her body shaking slightly against mine. 

“Mom? What’s the merge?” Sophie asked quietly, ever the curious one. 

“Shhh, go to bed.” 

“I don’t think I can fall asleep after what happened,” I informed her. 

“Try, tonight you both can stay in your room. Your Dad, Don, Aunt Beatrix and I are just outside, okay?” 

I nod, finding comfort in her words. Sophie and I got into bed, watching as she left the room. Sophie was quick to fall asleep, and I envy her for that. 

I couldn’t. Tonight only reminded me how much I loath the family I am born into. Not necessarily my parents, despite the nature of Dad’s job, I think he’s great. 

Being the second in command of the Tuhka’s empire, a feared and ruthless mafia empire in the country. Usually, the children are shielded from the violence of the world, but attacks happen, break in and stuff.

I doze off some seconds later, even though I was convinced, I wouldn’t get a wink of sleep. 

“Ava!” 

I jolted up at the sound of my name, my heart almost taking leave of my chest. Sophie stirred as well by Asher’s abrupt entrance. 

“Gee, you scared me!” 

He jumped on the bed, a crooked smile on his face. “I heard, are you okay? Anything broken?” 

I swat his hand away from my body like it’s a fly. “It was really scary, Asher. The man pointed a gun at my head, he was going to shoot me.” 

I gulped, leaving the other part out. 

“Well, cheer up! Caden is getting introduced as the heir today. How cool is that?” 

“I know, your Dad mentioned it last night. He also said something about a merge happening between our families.” 

“The merge huh?” He leans real close to me. “Don’t tell anyone, but I eavesdrop on Dad, Grandma and my Aunt talking about it. The merge is a betrothal arrangement to strengthen the relationship bond between two families.” 

I give him a look, doubt written all over my face. We have been best friends for the past seventeen years, he is always coming up with new ways to be funny. 

“If it were a betrothal, that word would have been used instead of merge. Besides, my Dad is married to my Mom, and yours to your Mom. See? Not funny.” I slide out of bed while he makes himself comfortable.  

He laughs, making me pause. 

“What’s so funny?” 

“You’re getting betrothed, silly! You and Caden are going to be the merge!” 

“What?”