They Tricked Me into a Death Mission

When they saw me, they all froze.

Michael was the first to recover.

"Well, since you heard, I won't lie to you.

"Angie just got back. She doesn't have anyone she can trust.

"She needs us more than you do."

My heart twisted.

I had to take a deep breath just to keep my face calm.

Michael kept going.

"You're the daughter of a top hitman. You'll do fine wherever you go."

I cut him off. "Whose idea was this?"

Angie's eyes darted around, and then she started to sob quietly.

Rocco Bianchi immediately stepped in front of her.

"We all came up with it together. Stop picking on Angie all the time."

Suddenly, it all seemed absurd.

I turned and stared at Michael.

"Last night, when you said you had feelings for me, was that part of the plan too?"

Michael avoided my eyes.

"You've been clinging to me since we were kids.

"If I told you I had feelings for you, you'd feel secure enough to plan our trip to the South District."

He didn't look the least bit guilty, as if it were no bigger deal than eating or drinking.

Angie shed a few tears, then suddenly pushed past Dom Rizzo toward the door.

"It's all my fault. I'll go find my father right now.

"I'll ask him to put in an application for me to go to the South District with Linda. You all stay."

The four of them surrounded her almost at once.

Vincent Mancuso shut the door.

"You just got back. Where do you think you're going?"

"But what about Linda?"

Angie was crying so hard her shoulders shook.

"The South District is chaotic and dangerous. Even her father didn't come back from there. She can't do it alone."

Michael rushed to wipe away her tears.

"Linda's an assassin. She'll be fine.

"You're the one who's frail. Don't gamble with your life."

I stood a few steps away, coldly watching them comfort her.

I thought back to the day my father brought them home from the orphanage.

We grew up together, and I'd thought of them as my closest family.

We should have shared the same fury over my father's murder.

But while I was grieving, they'd already chosen to betray me.

They'd chosen to become Angie's people.

Vincent pushed up his glasses, as calm as ever.

"Linda, I know this wasn't the most honorable way to do it, but I hope you'll understand.

"No one forced your father to bring us into the family, so no one should force us to avenge him either.

"You go, we stay.

"Everyone's happy."

The anger I'd been holding back finally flared.

I gave him a sharp smile. "So you'd rather go back to eating spoiled scraps at the orphanage than live with dignity in the family?"

Rocco hated those humiliating years more than any of them.

His face darkened at once.

"Weren't you on the fence about going to the South District anyway?

"You should thank us for helping you make up your mind."

It was true that I'd hesitated.

The Leiden family's South District bordered enemy territory.

It was so chaotic that even the police didn't want to deal with it.

My father had been assassinated there, and I dreamed of avenging him.

The Don had even talked to me privately and asked if I'd be willing to go to the South District.

But they'd always acted like they wanted to come with me.

The only reason I hadn't made up my mind was that I worried about their safety.

I'd even thought about letting go of my hatred.

I could have stayed with them in the family's core territory.

But now it seemed all my worries had been for nothing.

I turned for the door before my tears could fall.

Michael instinctively stepped in front of me.

"Where are you going?"

"Home."

"What about us?"