Chapter 4

At seven that evening, Horst returned to the main house with a pale Erin.

I'd just locked the last severance roster for my father's men in the safe when I heard him call my name from the hall.

"Come down and sign the release."

On the ebony table sat the accident settlement the enforcers had drawn up and a transfer agreement for South District territory.

It said that because the ledgers had been destroyed through my fault, three ports under my name would go to Erin to cover the Ferrara family's losses.

If I signed, Erin wouldn't just escape the family's punishment. She'd also take over part of my territory, and no one could say a word against it.

"The accident happened because she broke the rules and looked down to search for her phone."

I pushed the papers back untouched.

"The street cameras and the car's dashcam will both prove it."

Erin burst into tears.

"Diana, it's all my fault, every bit of it.

"But the ranking trials for top-tier assassins are next month. If my record says I deliberately attacked a colleague, my life is over."

Ever since she started working with Horst, becoming the league's top assassin had been her greatest ambition.

When she killed someone for the first time, I drew her pursuers away. I paid for her first decent sniper rifle out of my own private vault.

Now she wanted to climb to the top by stepping on the legacy my father had died for.

Horst pulled out a pen and forced it between my fingers.

"You already missed the council hearing. Throwing Erin in the dungeon won't get your control back.

"Sign it, and I'll put all three South District smuggling routes in your name."

Here we go again.

He thought my father's legacy, his life's work, and the lives of his men could all be reduced to bargaining chips.

As if he only had to offer enough, and I'd know my place, swallow every humiliation, and be grateful.

"Not a chance."

Horst looked at me for a few seconds, then took out his phone and gave an order.

"Cut every supply line to the old Don's crew house. And clear the place out."

After my father died, the old, sick, and wounded who'd stayed loyal to me had gathered in that crew house.

It wasn't just their refuge. It was my last escape route.

"Touch them and see what happens!"

"Your attitude decides whether they live or die."

Horst tossed his phone on the table and looked down at me.

"Diana, as long as you sign, nobody will ever touch that crew house, and you'll keep your place as Donna."

Erin hurried to tug at his sleeve, though triumph flashed in her eyes.

"Horst, don't push Diana like this."

She turned to me, all fake sincerity.

"I ruined your ledgers. I'll pay you back with every commission I earn from now on.

"But that ranking means everything to me. Diana, you've always seen the bigger picture. Go easy on me one more time, okay?"

Five years as his contract wife.

Not once had he wondered whether I could survive among the predators on this estate without control of my father's men.

Horst glanced coldly at his watch.

"You have 60 seconds before I lose my patience."

The phone on the table buzzed sharply.

It was the old man in charge of the crew house, his voice hoarse with despair.

"Donna, the enforcers have surrounded the crew house. They say they're clearing it out tonight.

"We've got dozens of badly wounded longtime members here, and our enemies have been watching us. How are we supposed to survive?"

Gripping the phone, I drew my gun and aimed it at Horst.

Horst didn't even blink. Instead, he stepped forward until his chest was pressed right against the barrel.

Once, he'd protected me from countless threats.

Now he was the one driving me to the edge.

"Shoot, or sign."

"You promised me that as long as I kept my head down, you'd never touch my father's people!"

"I also promised Erin I'd make sure she got into the Assassins' League."

Horst didn't waver at all.

"Diana, don't make me force you."

Through the phone came the sound of enforcers smashing their way in, mixed with the muffled groans of the old and wounded inside.

"Make them stop."

Horst picked up the pen, pulled off the cap, and held it out to me.

"Sign."

My hand shook as I took the pen.

Every stroke felt as if I were cutting away the last shred of hope I had for this man.

As soon as I finished signing, Horst ordered the enforcers back over the phone.

"See? Was that so hard?"

He reached out to wipe away my tears.

I turned my head away.

Erin stood to one side, holding her wound, and said quietly, "Diana, thank you for letting me have this."

With no expression at all, I pulled off the ring that marked me as Donna and tossed it straight into her arms.

"Don't thank me.

"All the power and status you wanted? I'm giving it to you."

Horst went rigid, his eyes locked on the ring.

"Diana, what's wrong with you? Put the ring back on."

I ignored him and picked up the suitcase I'd already left by the door.

Horst grabbed my hand.

"Where are you going?"

"To the crew house, to see the people you almost killed."

"You're not coming back to the estate tonight?"

I wrenched my hand free and started to leave.

Horst clearly thought I was leaving to gain leverage over him.

"The crew house is safe. Stop testing my limits."

He bent down, picked up the ring, and slid it back onto my finger. His tone left no room for argument.

"I'll send an armored car for you in the morning."

I gripped the handle of my suitcase and took one last look at the golden cage that had held me for five years.

"No need."

Horst's brows drew together. He was about to explode.

But then Erin cried out behind him that her wound hurt, and he turned to her without a moment's hesitation.

Just like every day and night of the past five years.

Whenever Erin needed him, I was always the one left behind and told to be understanding.

As the heavy bulletproof door swung shut, his cold ultimatum came through the gap.

"Once you've suffered enough out there, crawl back on your own."

I didn't answer him, and I didn't look back.

Ten hours later, I was on an international flight to New York.

My passport was issued under a new identity.

This time, I'd never be anyone's fallback again.