CHAEYOUNG

"Someone is just a tad bit presumptuous." Dahyun snickered into phone. "She's already packed, Chae."

And sure enough, when my car pulled up to the Italian-styled mansion, I watched as some of Myoui's men placed suitcases, what I figured were Mina's things, into a white suburban near the far side of the house. When they noticed us, they finished as fast they could and disappeared behind the tree sculptures that lined the back. They were all the size of Jeongyeon and I couldn't help wonder how they would fit in with our people. This would be the biggest merger the mafia world had ever seen.

"She is just like the rest of them," I said into the Bluetooth. "In love with Daddy's credit card. But from the looks of it, she is no worse than Momo."

"Or your mother," Dahyun said as the cars came to a stop. She couldn't deny her wife was a savage when it came to spending money. She held onto her plastic card with the Jaws of Life, and Dahyun, being the whipped bastard she was, couldn't bring herself to stop her. It would have been great if she actually spent the money on herself or the family, but no, she had to sprinkle it throughout the whole city, drawing unneeded attention at times. Jeongyeon's wife, Nayeon, was the complete opposite. She would walk right past a starving child and buy herself another pair of shoes. I, just like the rest of them, would have to allow Jennie to shop herself crazy as long as I got what I needed.

Hanging up, I tried to resist the urge to grin like a fool. Just from getting out of my Audi, I could feel the tides turn in my favor.

"Chaeyoung," my father said, stepping in line beside me. "You take the lead on this. I'll not interfere with whatever happens from this moment on. If you do this, you will have successfully cleared all obstacles in our way, and I will allow you to take my place as Ceann na Conairte. However, until that contract is signed, they are still the enemy. Should you fail, seek comfort in your mother, for you won't find any in me."

I wouldn't fucking think of it, I thought bitterly. Outwardly, I nodded and put my business face on.

Jeongyeon and Dahyun mimicked my expression. We had talked about the different scenarios this could come down to and were prepared for them all. Jeongyeon had four of her snipers outside, and Dahyun had jammed all frequencies that were not our own. We also had a car positioned less than a block away with men just waiting for the chance to clip the Myoui's wings. They were the enemy until the contract declared otherwise. I was more than ready to get the papers signed and continue my blood ascension to Ceann na Conairte.

"Incoming," Jeongyeon declared from my left, just as the doors to the mansion opened, revealing an older, jaded-looking man with a scar that ran from his forehead to his chin.

"Welcome, Sons, to the Myoui Villa. Mr. Myoui is already waiting and told me to skip the formalities for the time being. I shall escort you to his office." The older man bowed as though he had come out of Downton fucking Abbey. I knew Dahyun would have a laugh about that later, but for now, we were working.

I nodded, not wanting to waste time with formalities either. We all knew why we were here, and there was no need to bullshit. Usually, my father walked ahead of us, but since I was point man today, I followed the old man inside first. The house was beautiful, rich with vintage ceramic tiles, one too many statues, and the overwhelming scent of roses. It felt more like a museum to ancient Rome than a home.

Finally, the old man stopped and didn't bother to knock before opening a door for us. Stepping in, for the first time in my twenty-three years I was shocked. It didn't show on my face, but internally, I was shocked.

"If it isn't my favorite crime family," Akira said, coughing and in a wheelchair. The man known as "Iron Hands" was gone. The Myoui study was filled with ancient scrolls, floor-to-ceiling walls of books, with the exception of one large window, and nineteenth-century handcrafted furniture. However, nothing in here was more priceless than the sight of this old crippled man.

His hairless face broke out into a smirk. "Dongwoon, you trained them well. They didn't even flinch."

"I am insulted you are just figuring this out now," my father said and with just a sidelong glance I could tell what he was thinking. He was as shocked as we were. He just hid it well.

In the mafia world, Akira "Iron Hands" Myoui was the stuff of legends. The things he had done could not be said out loud without making many people sick, or causing them to piss themselves in fear. He was one of the very few men my father respected, and in some way, dreaded. They both had a healthy fear of each other, but the man in front of me now looked like he hadn't been in the same room with "Iron Hands" for years.

This explained why he wanted this merger finalized, I thought.

"Please, have a seat. The contract is on the desk," he said to us.

I knew my family wouldn't make a move. Only the Ceann na Conairte was able to sit down with the enemy, so I unbuttoned my jacket as the rest of them flanked the sides of my chair.

"We've already read the contract. We simply wish to see your daughter sign it," I told him. In fact, I had read it so many damn times, I knew it line by fucking line.

"Read it again, she has already signed," he said through a barking cough.

Tempted to lose my cool, I glared at Dahyun, telling her with my eyes to read it. She could read just as fast as I could, and I did not want Akira see me bend to his games. I would play nice for now, but I was not above beating a man in a wheelchair.

"Chaeyoung," Dahyun snapped, handing me back the paper.

It took me a moment to read over the two lines that had been changed.

"You're kidding." I snickered, handing it up to Jeongyeon and my father. "You are asking that she basically babysit how I run my company?"

Akira's brown eyes narrowed. The fact that he no longer had eyebrows only made him look more ill.

"We prefer the term empire," he stated.

"Of course, you do." Fucking Myouis and their empires. "Akira—and I will call you Akira, not out of disrespect, but because I know that by the end of tonight I will have a ring on your daughter's finger—your daughter will want for nothing. She will be able to buy the sun twice over if she wanted. She will be taken care of and treated like every other Son woman, which is like bloody royalty. In my care, your empire will be treated with the same care and reverence."

Akira leered before crossing his weak arms. "Pretty words. And I will call you kid because even if you were royalty, you would still never be good enough for my daughter. I did not ask her to babysit you. Mina is smart and will be more than useful. I have no doubt that the empire will be just fine. As your sister saw when she hacked our records."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dahyun stiffen beside me. No one ever knew she hacked into their files. It was then that I realized we had been set up. Akira wanted us to see how much we would lose if we didn't give in.

"Akira—"

"Don't try to sweet-talk me. We wrote the book on it. So, take the deal or walk away. That's my only offer. And in case you hadn't noticed, I don't have time to waste."

The old motherfucker cut me off.

I slid my left hand down and felt the brass knuckles in the pocket of my pants. I wanted to bash his face in. The vein at the side of my neck pulsed thickly, as it always did when I became bloodthirsty. My vision began to cloud over with rage. I knew, without a doubt, my father was waiting to see what I would do. Whatever choice I made, he would back me up here and bitch at me at home. I would not let anyone show me up, much less an old-timer halfway to his grave already. Not here, not now, and not ever. The room was silent as I stood up, walked over to his stocked bar, and poured myself a glass of brandy. He wanted to play hardball? So, could I.

"How much does she even know about the company, excuse me, I mean the empire, as you people call it?" I asked him as I poured.

"Enough."

Leering, I turned back to him. "Enough? That's all you can give me? Akira, meet me halfway here. You and I both know she may be smart, but no father would ever allow his little princess to see the things we see, or do the things we do."

"She's a quick learner. Considering the women you've been with, is that not enough?" He had a point.

Turning to my sister, I drank some more before leaning on Akira's desk. It would be mine soon enough.

"Jeong, dear sister, what do you think?" I asked, taking Akira's pen and point it at her.

"As long as she fulfills her other duties, why not? Anything she doesn't know you can teach her. It may help bind you both together." I almost wanted to applaud her. I laughed at the thought.

Sometimes, Jeongyeon was just so wise.

"And Dahyun, dear cousin, what do you think about this rude, last-minute shift in the contract?"

Dahyun grinned. "Worse comes to worse, you have to waste five minutes explaining things to her. Plus, I kind of like the idea. Maybe if the women knew how hard it was to make a few million, they wouldn't spend it so quickly."

We all laughed and turned to Akira who smirked at me with those damn chapped lips of his. I wasn't sure if it was because he agreed or because all the cancer drugs were messing with his brain. Myoui Akira was harder to read than most.

"Well then, Akira, I do believe I'll be marrying your daughter," I said with no emotion in my voice. Dahyun handed me the contract again.

Before the pen touched the paper, I stared at the meticulous script that spelled out Mina Sharon Myoui.

I wanted to see her first, but I signed anyway. My father had always told me to pick my battles so that I could have energy to survive the war. There was too much riding on this for me to refuse just because I would have to get an okay from a little princess. Besides we were married, I would keep her too busy to care.

"You aren't going to seek counsel from your father?" Akira asked as I signed away my soul.

"Her bride, her choice," my father said, speaking for the first time, and with just as much emotion as I had. None.

"My choice it is," I repeated, handing the sickly man, my future father-in-law, the papers. We shook hands, and I tried to force myself not to snap his in half. "I would like to see whom I have chosen."

"But of course," he said, ringing a bell that echoed throughout the room. Finishing the last of his horrible brandy, I waited.

When the door opened, I felt my cock try to detach itself. The girl who walked in was an ugly duckling with thick and messy dark brown hair, dark glasses, and goddamn braces.

Fuck it all to the seven levels of hell! My mind screamed.

"Just think, underground heroin fields. When would you like that plastic surgeon's number?" Jeongyeon murmured beside me. I could hear the laughter being held back in her voice. She cared about those damn underground heroin fields so much, you would think she did fucking heroin herself.

"Ms. Park, where is my daughter?" Akira asked, and my blood pressure dropped while my cock rose in hope. I could have sworn I heard the old man snicker.

"Closest fucking call of your life," Dahyun uttered, as we waited for the ugly duckling's reply. The timid girl glanced at us, but did not answer. Instead, she kept her eyes glued to the floor. If she didn't speak up soon, I would twist her ugly little head off.

"It's fine, Jihyo. The person before you is Mina's fiancée. You may speak freely," Akira told her while I was losing my goddamn patience.

Bowing at us first, she rose and gave me her full attention, standing with so much pride it almost distracted from her appearance . . . almost.

"Good morning. The Boss is in a meeting in the basement," she said, making us all freeze. Everyone in our world knew that fucking word.

"Is this some sort of joke?"

"Who do you think has been running things while I die, gentlemen?" He snickered, before turning away from us. "If you don't believe me, you are free to go to the basement. But be forewarned, you won't meet a woman who needs to be taught anything. Benvenuti nella famiglia, Sons."

Flaming, I turned back to my father who was still staring at the sick man in the chair.

"Did you know this?" I glared at him, only to have him glare right back. Most days, I knew my place under my father, but the tides were shifting. I was rising, and I needed to know if he had held information from me.

"No, Chaeyoung, I was not aware. It seems to have been a well-kept secret, but does explain the recent growth of the Myoui Empire," he replied, seeming somewhat baffled by the thought of it as well.

"No fucking way a girl has been behind all this," Jeongyeon said like a child.

"Take us to her then," I commanded the girl, and she nodded. I would see this Mina and find out if she was truly the Boss they had dared to call her.

"Dongwoon, may I share words with you for a moment?"

My father nodded, no longer caring what I chose to do.

One last time I turned to Akira, who didn't even bother looking back as we left. It must have been a grim day for him. He would lose a company and a daughter. I didn't pity him, though—he'd be dead soon enough.

The ugly duckling didn't speak, or even bother breathing, until we reached the end of the hall that was guarded by two of Myoui's men. From the corner of my eye, I saw both Dahyun and Jeongyeon slowly reach for their guns. In Dahyun's left hand, her cellphone was ready to call in more guns if this was a trick. But my instincts and common sense told me that Akira really was dying and he wanted to marry off his daughter first. What I didn't know was what to believe about said daughter.

The men glanced at me before opening the door, only to reveal an elevator with Sana inside. She was the bastard daughter of Gino Minatozaki, one of the fucking mutts who had the balls to break into our safe house and kill fifteen of our men sixteen years ago. It was the reason my father pushed for this goddamn contract.

"This is as far as I can go. It was a pleasure to be of service," Jihyo said to us, giving me a short bow again before stepping back.

"Ms. Son," the mutt said with forced respect, making space for us in the elevator.

The moment we were all inside, Jeongyeon took a step next to her, clearly itching for an excuse to pull the trigger. She knew Jeongyeon was there but did not say a word or even flinch when Dahyun reloaded loudly.

All any of us could hear when we stepped out of the elevator was a man gasping for air as water splashed around him. We were a level up from where they were waterboarding the man. The basement was just one giant gym with a boxing ring in the corner. They had cleared everything on the ground floor to make room for their prisoner. As I stepped up to the rail, a few eyes fell on me. The men gave me a short nod as if they understood the shift happening within their company. Each one of them looked just as deadly as our men, and they all stood silently, allowing the man's underwater screams to echo around the space.

"Enough," a gentle voice called out, and each man stood straighter when the most beautiful woman I had ever seen stepped forward. Even from where I stood, I could tell she was perfection. From her wavy, black hair, flawless olive skin, and deep brown eyes, to her perfect hourglass figure. The knee-length white dress she wore hugged each one of her toned curves and, God, her tight ass—fuck. Her lips demanded to be kissed, and my cock demanded I have my way with her right then and there.

"Mina Sharon Myoui, head of the Myoui family and the Boss," Sana informed us.

Jeongyeon stepped up to see the goddess below.

"Holy shitcock, motherfucking damn," she said, her mouth dropping open.

"Jeongyeon," I said, without emotion. The last thing I wanted to believe was that we were impressed.

Nodding, Jeongyeon returned to the same cold monster I needed at my side. Dahyun met my gaze, telling me she was on the same wavelength as Jeongyeon.

If it weren't for the obnoxiously loud gasping coming from the man below us, all three of us would have forgotten he was there. But when I looked closer, I realized who it was they were waterboarding.

Ryan Ross. How the fuck did they get him?

"Ryan, as much as I would like to draw this out, I am late for a meeting with my fiancée, and I hate being late," Mina stated, as a blonde man stepped forward, holding her jewelry on a white fucking pillow.

"To hell with you and your fiancée. You no good cunt bitc—" Before he could finish, one of the men who had held him down smashed his fist several times into his face.

"It's Boss or Ms. Myoui," the man said, spitting on him. "Nothing more. Nothing less."

Mina frowned and even that made me hard. She had beautiful lips.

"I didn't want to do this," she said, putting her earrings in before being handed a gun.

Spitting the blood from his mouth, Ryan smiled. "Do it. I'd rather die than talk to you, bitch."

"Who said this was for you?" Mina smiled back as two men dragged a sobbing female forward and placed her on a chair in front of the scum. Ryan's eyes widened as he looked at her.

"The Valero don't know about your special friend, do they? They aren't big on you fucking women outside the ones they offer you. You tried really hard to keep her a secret," she said, walking behind him. It made my blood boil at how close she was to him.

"Did you know she's pregnant?" Mina asked, causing the girl to hold on to her flat stomach and sob even louder. "Two lives saved if you just tell me what I want to know." She loaded the gun.

He didn't say a word, even as the girl begged him.

"So this is your answer then, Ryan?" Mina asked slowly. "I will kill her."

He still did not speak.

Sighing, she fired not once, not twice, but repeatedly, only stopping when the girl's lifeless body fell from the chair. She didn't even flinch. Instead, she walked toward the girl and emptied the rest of her clip into the body. When she was done, she turned back to the now blood-spattered Ryan who sat wide-eyed and shaken. This must have happened often, because her men went to work, carrying the body and cleaning up the blood on the ground, which hadn't touched her. They brought a new blood-free chair for her to sit on and handed her a pair of heels. All of which happened in a matter of seconds. They moved like the military.

"Does it make me a hypocrite if I still consider myself pro-life?" She didn't even blink as she stepped into her white shoes.

"She's just as fucking merciless as you are," Jeongyeon uttered in disbelief.

In a single moment, though, she had gone against everything I ever believed. This was not the role I wanted my future wife to play. She was too beautiful for the blood and the darkness. She should be upstairs, flipping through catalogs and painting her pretty little nails, or waiting in our bed for me to have her. This could not stand, and this would not be her role. I was to become the Boss and the Ceann na Conairte. She was to stand at my side so they would fall in line.

Not that I could deny how sexy I found it. My mind hated this . . . saw the danger in this . . . but my body lusted after it painfully. My cock throbbed for her.

Dahyun snickered to my right. "Right now, you wish the biggest thing you had to deal with was a charity junkie for a wife."

I couldn't agree more. I would have to fix this situation and fast.

"Everyone out!" I roared, making every last one of the inhabitants of the room look at me as though I had lost my mind.

The eyes that shined with the most rage were those of my beautiful, soon-to-be wife. Oh well, this would be her first lesson. There was one Boss, only one Ceann na Conairte, and it was not her.