My Cousin Tried to Steal My Place as the Don's Heir

My mother was Don Elias Colin's only daughter, and he adored her.

My grandfather was so happy when I was born that he threw parties for an entire month and invited every powerful family to celebrate.

Before I'd even opened my eyes, he'd named me the heir in the family's official records.

Too bad I hadn't inherited the Colin family's hunger for power.

When I was ten, my grandfather took it upon himself to teach me the rules of the game.

I stared at the book for an hour, then doodled stick figures in the bottom right corner of the page.

My grandfather was so angry he could barely hold his cane.

The next day, he brought my cousin Ron into the business.

Ron was four years older than me, smart and levelheaded.

While I still couldn't tell one gun from another, he could pick up any weapon in the warehouse and tell you everything about it.

At 15, he was already mingling with ease at the casinos alongside the family's advisor. At 16, he was going to the docks alone to negotiate drug deals.

I couldn't have been more relieved.

From then on, whenever I wanted to paint, he checked the casino books for me. When I went out sketching, he dealt with family traitors. Even when my grandfather scolded me for being lazy, I hid behind Ron.

So my grandfather simply set a rule.

The underboss would serve one year at a time. His appointment would expire every December 31st, and on January first, the family heir would renew it with the family seal.

Ron was still young back then.

My grandfather just tapped his cane on the floor.

"Go through the renewal with Sorrel every year, right on time. Whatever keeps her happy."

So every year for ten years, Ron brought me his annual report.

I'd be nodding off before I even finished reading the arms inventory that came with it.

"Last year went fine, didn't it?"

I'd yawn and stamp his renewal papers.

Ron would always laugh and shake his head.

"You don't even know how this year went, and you'll still stamp it?"

I'd sit up and smile at him.

"Isn't that what you're for?"

Over time, the only person anyone knew was Ron Colin, the underboss.

Every capo in the Colin family respected him. Whenever something went wrong with the business, legal or otherwise, they reported to him first.

I thought it was great.

Then, last summer, Ron said he wanted to marry Morwen, the daughter of the Locke family.

But the Locke family saw him as a poor relation who just ran errands for us, so they kept turning down the match.

For the first time, Ron came to me and asked for help.

I was preparing an art show at the time. After hearing him out, I asked, "Do you really love her?"

He nodded. The very next day, I sent a complete set of one-of-a-kind jewelry I'd won at auction to the Locke house.

They changed their minds that same day.

To make the match look even more respectable, I picked out ten of my own villas around the world and gave them to her outright.

When Morwen heard, she was even nicer to me.

She shopped with me, helped me choose jewelry and handbags, and even hired a chef whenever I casually mentioned a dish I wanted to try.

Before the wedding, she held my hand and smiled.

"Sorrel, from now on, we're family.

"Whatever you want to do, I'll be right there with you."

I was thrilled.

On their wedding day, I also gave her a couture gown.

The next day, I went to see her with a set of solid-gold dinnerware.

Ron had gone to meet with the capos, so Morwen was alone in the villa.

She welcomed me in with the same smile as always.

But the moment the door closed, she slowly let go of my hand.

Morwen folded her arms and watched me as her smile faded.

"Sorrel Colin.

"You didn't really think I was nice to you all this time because I liked you, did you?"