Chapter 1 Untitled Chapter

[KIRA]

“I want you to kill Ryat Vitale, and bring me his body.”

The moment my father's voice fills the room, the air freezes.

Five pairs of eyes snap to him. My mother goes pale, horror and disbelief written all over her face. My brothers clench their fists, anger vibrating through the walls. Andrei looks ready to tear him apart, jaw tight, nostrils flaring.

But my father doesn’t flinch. He sits back in his chair like a king, eyes locked on me. “Only then will you be one of us, a true Hernandez,” he says, cold and final, as if announcing the weather instead of sentencing his daughter to death.

“Father, you can’t do this!” Andrei shouts.

“I don’t ask for your opinion,” my father says smoothly, gaze fixed on me. That look. Disapproval, resentment, the kind that has haunted me all my life, settles over me like a storm cloud.

“She’s our sister. She’s your daughter!” Andrei steps closer, fists trembling.

I glance at my mother. Her eyes mirror my own. Fear. I grip Andrei’s hand, urging him back to his seat. Confrontations with Father always end in blood or broken things, or worse.

“She’s not my daughter,” he says, voice calm. “She carries my name, but until she proves herself worthy, she has no place in this family, or this mafia.”

My chest tightens.

Prove myself. That’s all I ever do. School, training, obedience. But it’s never enough.

“And you want her to prove it by killing Ryat Vitale?” Andrei snaps.”Father, have you gone crazy?”

I stand. “If that’s what it takes, Father, I’m ready,” I say. My voice barely trembles, but inside, my heart races.

Shock ripples through the room. My mother’s hands fly to her mouth; my brothers look like they want to rip me apart. But no one truly understands. None of them fight for Father’s attention like I do.

“Good,” he says, smiling faintly. “Now excuse us. We have family business to discuss.”

I turn and leave the room. Tears threaten, but I blink them away.

I head upstairs into my bedroom and shut the door. I move to the mirror and look into it. The girl looking back seems small, fragile… unworthy of the mafia legacy she carries.

Kira Hernandez. Only daughter of Raul Hernandez, head of the New York branch of the Spanish mafia. A princess without a throne.

I live in his shadow, constantly reminded I am an outsider. But now, I will prove myself. Ryat Vitale will fall, and I will rise in his eyes.

If only it were that easy.

“Don’t do this, Kira,” Andrei says softly, arms crossed, worry etched into his face. It's been two days since father gave his instructions, and in two days I have been busy preparing for my leave to Italy.

I don't feel good about this but this is my only chance at convincing father that I'm not just a waste of investment.

“We talked about this, Andrei,v” I reply, fastening my crystal studs. “He needs to see I am capable. I won’t fail.”

I glance at the clock on the wall. Past noon Chiara will be here any minute to take us to the airport. Italy. A new country. A deadly test.

Andrei steps closer, warmth grounding me. “You don’t need his approval to be a Hernandez.”

I shake my head. He doesn’t understand. None of them do. They never fight for Father’s attention. I on the other hand have had to earn everything he has given me.

“I’ll be fine,” I whisper. “I need this. I need him to see me.” I move closer and place a hand on his shoulder. “I'll be fine, Andrei. You don't have to worry.”

“How can I not worry when you are going out there with the intention to kill one of the world's most powerful men?” He sighs and pulls me in a hug before we both head downstairs.

When we get to the living room, my family and friend, Rylie, are all waiting. A chocolate cake sits on the table, my favorite.

Luca scoops me up mid-step, spinning me like a child.

“Stop acting like we won’t see each other soon!” I laugh, hugging the twins, Gray and Kirian.

Kirian’s quiet words hold more weight than any. “I will join you soon. I won’t let you face this alone.”

I hug him tight, grateful but determined. This mission is mine. My burden. ”Don't worry, Kir. I'll be fine. You trained me yourself, remember?”

My mother’s eyes glisten with worry. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

“Yes, Mom,” I say firmly. “I have to do this.”

Even Michael, my half-brother, smirks. “Try not to get yourself killed.”

I roll my eyes, before moving to Rylie.

“Be careful out there pumpkin. Italy is one rough place to be,” she tells me, pulling me in a tight hug.

I smile weakly. “I will, Ry. Try not to give your mother a heart attack.” We both laugh.

A car horns outside and I look towards the door. Must be Chiara.

I hug everyone one last time and reluctantly drag my suitcase outside.

Hours later, we land in Venice. The warm Italian air smells of salt and sunshine. I follow Chiara through the bustling airport, every step echoing with anticipation.

A black Jaguar pulls up. A man steps out. Tall, broad-shouldered, dark-skinned, piercing blue eyes. “Welcome home, Mia Cara,” he says to Chiara, and she blushes, even though she's currently staring daggers at him.

I watch, a little envious of their ease, before he extends a hand to me. “Nice to meet you, pretty lady. I’m Ronan. Ron.”

I shake his hand with a smile. “Kiara.”

“Let's just get going,” Chiara says. She opens the door and heads inside before anyone could say anything.

Italy is exactly as Rylie told me in her stories. Beautiful yet busy and noisy.

The journey is long and silent

Somewhere in this country, Ryat Vitale is waiting, a shadowed force that could end me.

I take a deep breath. One step at a time. One move closer to proving I belong.

Because

failure is not an option.

As the car speeds into the Venetian sunset, I know this is only the beginning.