Blue Blood in My Veins

I called Dad and told him that I was already on the plane back home.

The entire airport was cleared. From the runway to the terminal, every corner was filled with his men.

A line of black bulletproof cars stretched across the tarmac, mercenaries standing on either side. They all donned sunglasses, and the bulge of firearms beneath their suits was clearly visible.

The airport security had no choice but to step aside, not daring to interfere.

My father was the most respected Mafia don on the East Coast, and he came to pick me up himself.

Time hadn't left a mark on him except for his imposing presence. Clad in a black coat, he scanned his surroundings with his piercing gaze. Every single person who met his eyes immediately lowered their heads and fell silent.

But the moment his gaze fell on me, his expression softened.

Dad approached me and took me into his embrace. With a heart-wrenching look on his face, he asked, "Who has the audacity to make my princess suffer?"

I didn't answer him, and he didn't press further either. He took me home and made sure I rested well.

During that time, I was cared for in every way.

I eventually forgot about Chase. However, I didn't expect to see him while scrolling through Facebook—he was engaged to Lucille.

In the photo, he was kneeling, kissing her pregnant belly.

Staring at the bulge of Lucille's belly, I chuckled. So it turned out that they had been together so long that he had even gotten her pregnant.

Thanks to my family's care, I recovered well. Dad began introducing me to the family business. I enjoyed my light workload at first—until my assistant, Skylar Fox, informed me that I had to represent my family at a gala.

I agreed. Yet, I never expected to run into Chase on the night of the gala.

Hand in hand with Lucille, he shot me a complicated look.

Lucille also noticed me. "So, are you Daphne?"

I nodded. "Yes."

A mocking smile tugged at her lips as she lifted her chin and drawled out, "Daphne, I never thought you'd be the one representing the Gambino family."

She tilted her head slightly, the smugness in her voice belying her feigned composure as she continued, "Did you know the Gambino family's Don has always treated me like his own daughter? And the heiress of the Gambino family is my best friend."

I blinked and flashed a smile at her, not willing to indulge her.

We had never met before. How could we be best friends?

Besides, no matter how much the Gervais family had expanded in recent years, they were nothing more than nouveau riche—clawing their way up the social ladder through arranged marriages and backdoor deals.

If they hadn't come begging to work with us, they wouldn't even be worthy.

As the oldest and most powerful mafia family in history, our family had nothing to prove.

Of course, I was well aware that Lucille was saying all this to show off.

Skylar wanted to say something, but I stopped him.

Just then, Chase went up to me. Conflicted emotions flickered in his gaze as he asked, "Daphne, why did you leave without a word?"

I smiled. "Well, I'm letting you and Lucille have more space."

His expression darkened. Meeting my gaze, he said, "Daphne, you know I fought my way up to where I am now. In order to further establish my family, I have to hold onto Lucille!"

Hearing how justified he sounded, I felt my smile wane. "Yeah, so you made the right choice."

Chase seemed even more mortified. "Daphne, I went looking for you as soon as you left."

Grief flashed in his eyes as he continued, "I know you went to the hospital to—"

"Chase McGregor!" I interrupted, scowling at him. "I was glad I did that. At that moment, I realized you were never meant for me. So, I also made the right choice. Otherwise, I would've ended up being just another one of your pawns!"

Chase looked like someone had punched the living daylights out of him.

I said nothing more. Handling the rest of my affairs to Skylar, I left on my own.

Seeing those two put me in a foul mood—it was better not to cross paths at all.

After I left, Skylar told me that Lucille had been acting particularly arrogant, even publicly claiming that we were best friends.

I smirked, swirling a glass of red wine. "Don't expose my identity just yet. Let her keep up the act."

My eyes glinted as I continued, "Over my dead body will the Genovese family ever see a dime from the Gambinos!"