Part 3I Spent Thirteen Years Taking Bullets for the Mafia Heir

Theo couldn't wait anymore. He insisted on leaving, but Dad grabbed his shoulder.

"Get back here. Your succession ceremony isn't over."

Theo shook him off. "Uncle Paolo, Daisy never goes this long without answering. I'm going to North Hill now."

Dad's face darkened. "She'll be fine."

He glanced at the stage as if the answer were obvious.

"Today's the day you officially take over the Valenti family. We've all waited 13 years for this. Daisy's been training since she was seven. Wasn't it all to make sure you got here?"

Mom tried to calm him down too. "Why would she call now, of all times? Daisy knows North Hill well. She knows how to handle herself. Don't worry. Get back onstage. It's almost time for the final signing."

I watched my parents reassure Theo. Once again, it hit me that they'd raised me for one purpose: to take the hits meant for him until he could claim his place as heir.

That was when my grandfather, Vittorio Valenti, arrived.

He came in, looked around, and the first thing he said was, "Where's Daisy?"

On pure instinct, I floated straight to Grandpa's side. If I could still touch him, I probably would've grabbed his arm like I did when I was little.

But my hand went right through him.

Dad just said calmly, "She's still at North Hill. Once Theo signs the last papers, we'll go get her."

Grandpa's face went dark. "She's alone at North Hill. How much longer are you going to make her wait?"

Mom rushed to explain. "Vittorio, Daisy's hard to kill. Remember when she was kidnapped at 17? She was gone for three days and still managed to get home on her own."

I remembered that better than anyone.

The kidnappers wanted to trade me for the real Theo. Dad said no. He didn't even tell my uncle about it.

All he said on the phone was, "Daisy, hang in there. Find a way out on your own."

In the end, I cut the ropes, threw myself down a hillside, and walked a long, long way on a broken leg before I made it back to the estate.

I came back badly wounded, and the first thing Mom said when she saw me was, "You didn't tell them where Theo was, did you?"

Once Dad confirmed the main branch's routes hadn't been exposed, he finally relaxed. "I knew you wouldn't embarrass us."

I used to think that was just how they loved me. It took dying for me to see the truth.

They were never proud of me for surviving. They were proud that Theo hadn't gotten so much as a scratch, even though I'd nearly died protecting him.

Grandpa obviously remembered that time too.

He looked at Dad, his voice low. "She's your own daughter. Her life isn't yours to spend just so you can curry favor with the main branch."

Dad frowned. "Dad, Daisy's been training for this day since she was seven. There are only ten minutes left. We have to think about what's best for the family."

At that, everyone went quiet.

My heart wasn't even beating anymore, yet pain still stabbed through my chest in waves.

So in their eyes, my life was always measured against one thing: Theo's safety. As long as Theo made it into that seat, whether I lived or died didn't really seem to matter.

Those ten minutes dragged on forever.

Grandpa kept checking his watch. Theo kept urging everyone to finish the ceremony. But Mom and Dad couldn't take their eyes off the stage, their faces glowing with pride.

They'd waited 13 years to see Theo become heir.

And I'd waited 13 years to finally shed the label of "stand-in."

The moment the ceremony ended, Theo ran out of the estate without even adjusting his ring.

Mom and Dad finally followed.

When they got to North Hill, they found the black sedan riddled with bullets, surrounded by the bodies of the rival family's men, their boss among them.

The driver was dead behind the wheel. The back seat and the ground were covered in blood that had already gone dark.

Mom's legs gave out, and Theo caught her.

A trail of blood led from the car door into the hills. Dr. Russo, who'd come with them, examined the scene. "She was still conscious after being shot. She managed to put pressure on her wound and get out of the car. That means she could still move at the time."

Dad visibly relaxed. He sounded as sure as ever. "I knew it. She's been hard to kill since she was a kid. An injury like this won't kill her. She must be hiding somewhere, waiting for us to come find her again."

I floated beside him, and the bitter irony hit me. He wasn't worried. He was proud because as long as I was alive, I could keep protecting Theo.

To Dad, I wasn't even allowed to die. Unless I died right in front of him, he'd just assume I was making a fuss.

Grandpa didn't relax. He just looked at the trail of blood leading into the hills.

"Don't celebrate yet. Find her first."