Chapter 1

I had been the Donna for seven years, and everyone saw me as the witch who had pushed the Don aside and taken credit for everything.

But only I knew who had really earned every victory they praised the "Cavina men" for.

Jack ran the port.

Three years ago, he failed to declare a shipment properly and got a batch of restricted medicine held by customs. I flew to Frankfurt that same night and renegotiated the supply documents, saving both him and the shipment.

Afterward, he put a hand over his heart and swore he owed me his life.

Today, that bastard pointed at me and said, "You just know a few people because of the Medici name. We're the ones who actually risk our lives handling the shipments."

James ran the finances.

He couldn't understand the extra conditions in the banks' contracts. Every time our credit lines needed to be renewed, I had to redo his cash-flow reports and complete the risk documents for him. Last year, he missed the deadline to refinance our debt. I used my own credit to guarantee the family's loan and kept us from running out of money.

Now he said, "You kept all our connections with the banks to yourself on purpose. You wanted to make sure the family couldn't do anything without you."

Bruno Cavina handled the union and the dockworkers.

He cut the workers' hazard pay and almost caused the entire port to go on strike. I spent two days and two nights in the union hall negotiating their wages and injury payments, going through every detail with them.

Now he had voted against me as well.

"Anyone can negotiate. The Don only let you be the one in charge because he wanted to make you look important. That's all."

My personal secretary, Luca Cavina, sat at the far end of the long table and didn't look at me once.

For the past seven years, I had checked every piece of information he gave me. Wrong locations, expired inspection lists, informants who had already betrayed us—I caught every mistake before it could ruin an operation.

He had also prepared the list of voters for today.

Thirty ballots. Every single one was there.

I looked at Enzo.

"You were the one who put forward the motion to take away my council seat.

"They say I stole everyone's credit. You agreed with that too.

"Then why would you expect me to continue to handle the accounts, the negotiations, and the port?"

Enzo frowned.

"Emily, don't act as if we've betrayed you.

"You're my wife. Isn't it only natural for you to share the load?"

I finally understood.

They wanted to take away the power and shares I had risked my life to earn, while still expecting me to stay and clean up every mess they made.

I slipped off my wedding ring and family badge and slapped them both onto the long table.

"If I have no right to make decisions for this family, then I have no responsibility to handle its problems either."

Enzo's face darkened.

Jack slammed the table and jumped to his feet.

"You're not a council member anymore. Hand over the bank authentication token and the port access card!"

James immediately held out his hand. "And the family accounts, the credit files, and all the negotiation records. You aren't taking anything with you."

Bruno sneered. "Don't think you can hold on to those things and make us beg you to come back."

I didn't argue.

I went into my office, opened the safe, and placed the bank authentication token, the port access card, and the council seal in front of them one by one.

Jack's eyes lit up as he eagerly grabbed the port access card.

Enzo seemed to relax too. His expression softened into the familiar, loving look he always gave me.

"Good. That's more like it. Once they've calmed down, I'll bring you back."

I didn't tell him the truth.

The banks, the union, and the Five Families hadn't spent seven years working with the Cavinas because we had an authentication token or an access card.

The Medici name had only opened the first few doors for me.

They had kept working with us because they trusted me to stand behind every deal.

These fools had taken the tools while throwing away the only person who knew how to use them.