“No. Felix is still alive. You are still in danger. Your child is still in danger,” my father stares at the stomach I can no longer hide.
I frown and lean back. I’m still not safe.
Felix is alive.
“But even if Felix were dead, I still wouldn’t tell Enzo you are alive.”
“Why not?”
“Because the only way you get to live is to pretend you are dead.”
“I don’t understand.”
My father takes a deep breath, with pain I’ve never seen on his face before. He sets his cup of coffee down on the table next to him. He stands and walks to the edge of the deck and leans on the banister.
I stand and walk over next to my father. I lean on the railing next to him. We both stare out at the wilderness behind his house. It’s breathtaking, but the view isn’t what is taking my breath away. My father is. I’m patient. I know whatever he is about to say is important. But it’s still hard waiting.
Finally, my father looks me in the eyes with tears streaming down his face.
“I’m not your father, Kai.”
“What? Yes, you are. You raised me since I was little. We look exactly alike.”
He puts a hand on my shoulder, and I stop talking.
“I’m your uncle.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Your father died, fighting to become Mr. Black.”
My heart stops. “What? How?”
“The final game…”
I hold my breath, but I already know what my father, or my uncle, is about to say. I think I’ve always known.
Enzo has my heart. He’s always possessed it. The truth is the one thing I’ve always wanted, but knew deep down would take away everything I love.
“The final game is always the same. It’s why you have to have heirs before the game starts. Because only one will survive the final game. The final game only ends when one of you dies, and one of you lives.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to keep the pain in.
“Your father died at Enzo’s father’s hands. I was named your guardian. I raised you and did what I could to protect you. I sold you to give you strength and hoped it was enough for you to survive the final game.”
More tears.
“Because I can’t watch another family member die at the hand of a Rinaldi.”
“Enzo won’t kill me.”
My father pulls me into a hug as I continue to sob. “If you go back, he won’t have a choice. If Felix doesn’t kill you, then you will have to fight to the death to win the empire. The men won’t settle for anything less. Either one of you dies, or they will kill you both.”
I nod, understanding what this means. I finally have a way to save both Enzo and my baby. Enzo will kill Felix. It may take some time, but it will eventually happen. He will rebuild the Black organization with the men and women who survived and were loyal to him. He will be named Mr. Black.
But if I go back, they will force us to continue the game.
And then one or both of us will die. But I can protect them both—Enzo and my child.