I raise an eyebrow at her, and she smiles back at me, making me snort.
She is her father’s child.
“You fucking cunt!” Sofia screams, charging forward and raising her gun.
Malia’s hand snaps out so fast it’s a blur. Sofia doesn’t make it two steps before Malia’s blade lodges itself deep inside her brain. She falls forward with a fleshy smack as the blade sinks deeper from the force. A gunshot rings out and I frown as Giovanni joins his wife, bleeding out on my office floor with a fatal shot to the back of his head.
Tyjae steps into the room with her weapon still trained on the piled Riccis. She stands over them, watching, waiting to see if they happen to move again. She spits on the couple and raises her gaze to Malia and me.
“Nice shot,” Malia says with a smile to the girl who acted as her guardian within the Ricci walls.
I purse my lips, looking down at the bodies lying there as blood pools around them.
“I liked this carpet,” I grumble, turning away to stalk back over to my desk, dropping into my chair with a huff.
“Daddy, you’re pouting,” Malia says through a laugh.
It’s a beautiful sound.
One of my favorites.
I smile back at her, glad my baby is home and ready to ride the rollercoaster of recovery with her.
39
Malia
Todaymydadstepsdown as leader of The Olin Empire, handing it all to my brother to take over until he’s ready to pass it on to his child.
Hundreds of our crew are gathered in the grand foyer. The Olins, Liam, Hazel, and Chantelle stand front-and-center on the second-level platform. Our closest friends and family are lined along the grand staircase, while everyone else looks up from the ground floor below.
Hazel is around seven-months pregnant now. She and Donovan wanted to wait to tell everyone when they got me back. When it turned into months, hiding a big belly became an issue. Donovan told our dad and, months later, Hazel already looks like she’s ready to explode, hating life, and just fucking over it all.
I have no idea what we’re going to do with a kid here. They’re not my favorite creatures, but ever since I realized I was pregnant in Italy, the idea of having my own hasn’t seemed so bad.
That’s if I’m even able to.
The memory stings and I can’t help but be jealous of my brother. He gets his healthy baby girl and my dream. I don’t ride that wave, though. There’s no reason to be bitter about it anymore.
Donovan was there for Liam when everyone else treated him like the enemy. For that alone, I can swallow my pride and love my brother for the lucky asshole he is.
“Today is the day where I hand over my title, the throne I have sat upon for twenty-six years,” my dad says, starting his speech for Donnie’s initiation. “Handing over your empire is never easy. There is a finality to your legacy moving on to the next generation.
“Throughout the years I have sacrificed many things for the sake of a vow. I have turned my back on love for a destiny someone else wanted for me. Given up my own happiness to follow through with what was expected of me. One day, regardless of how strict my own code is, two very different beings challenged every thought I have ever had. Every rule that has been passed on through generations and I have drilled into my children’s heads. Only for them to question every single one. I have watched them, analyzed them, and learned from them.
“The last year has put a lot of things into perspective for me. I had begun to question choices I have made but, though some may not agree, I stand by them now. Through my own experiences, I learned at a very young age that I would never force a life upon my children they didn’t want.”
I frown at my dad in confusion. Donovan doesn’t want this, I do. Yet here he is, forcing his children lives they don’t fucking want.
“As I step down today, I hope we can all agree,” he continues.
My dad and Donovan turn to face me, I can feel the heaviness of everyone’s attention shifting to me and my body falls still. Liam’s arm snakes around my waist from behind and he pulls me against him.
“Malia, I know it may seem like I have not been fair to you when it comes to my empire. I have always known that you were my true heir, and I never once thought you could not handle it.”
My heart beats frantically in my chest while he completely changes course.
“Anyone who could deny your strength and powerful mind simply because you were born a female has never witnessed the true power of a woman. After what I have seen you overcome, I know no man could come close to rivaling the power you wield. I cannot expect you to understand why I chose the path I did in teaching you the cruel realities of our world, but I stand by it. Not a single person in this room is more deserving of my empire. Of your empire, baby girl.”