er muscles ached from the restless sleep, her mind still racing from the night before. She ha

er childhood bedroom, untouched by time. The same four-poster bed with its carved wooden frame. The same bookshelves line

her thoughts. "Sofia, we need to talk." Lu

oor. Pulling on a robe, she walked to the door and opened it to find Luca standing there, dressed

ked, her tone edge

family's captains. The

arms. "I haven't m

. "Deciding isn't a luxury you have anymore. The captains are

epping into the hallway. "I

"It is. Whether you like it or not, this is your blood. And if y

lared at him. "I'm not my father

no less insistent. "You think I wanted this? You think I

hem. For a moment, neither of them spo

rely above a whisper. "I'll meet them.

o let her pass. "Get dresse

s. The captains were already seated when Sofia arrived, their expressions ranging from skepticism

ight of their gazes felt like a physical force, pressing down o

e. "Sofia DeLuca, Michael's daughte

captains, a burly man with graying hair, scoffed

ard, his gaze sharp. "We need strength, not some

anger boiling beneath the surface. "But I'm here now, and I'm willing to listen. If any

uneasy glances. Luca's lips curved into the fa

ve. "The Corsettis are circling like vultures. If yo

ong-standing rivals-but she had no idea how to handle them. Still

s were making moves on DeLuca territory, exploiting the power vacuum left by Michael'

e. "Negotiation is not an option. If we g

world, no idea how to navigate its treacherous waters. But if she backed d

ce steady despite the storm raging inside h

their skepticism softening int

the hallway, his expression unreadable.

a compliment or an insult," she replie

gentle. "But you've just declared war on the Cors

turning to face him.

and something she couldn't quite place. "Blood. Bet

chest. She had stepped into the shadows of he