Page 10 of Precious Legacy

Haldon, on the other hand, didn’t spawn from the same gene pool when it comes to intelligence. He’s got business smarts and knows how to get what he wants, just like Uncle Hunter. He’s got the looks, can talk the talk and walk the walk, but put a math equation in front of him or any kind of academic literature andhe freezes up. He’s fiercely loyal, though. He would do anything for his sister, myself included. He’s found his calling; taking on his father’s clubs, maintaining the legal side of business because it’s what he excels in.

“Sorry, I’m late!” Haven pants as she takes a seat in front of me. “My professor held me back to talk about my assignment.”

I raise a brow at her dubiously. “Is that what we’re calling it?”

“Oh shut up!” she admonishes. “He’s old!”

“So?” I shrug, pushing her coffee across the table. It’s probably cold by now, but she still accepts it, taking a huge gulp before responding.

“I’m not into old men who play with Petrie dishes for a living.”

“Fair enough,” I chuckle. “So, what’s new?” I ask, watching Haven remove her coat and hat. It’s not even that cold outside with it being September, but she’s always preferred the warmth. Whenever we go out somewhere, you’ll always find her wearing a coat, regardless of the occasion or season. It’s just one of her many quirks, and I love her for that.

“Not a lot,” she hums in thought, ruffling her long brown hair. She’s wearing it straight today, with only the slightest hint of makeup—not that she needs it. The girl is stunning. It seems the entire Gambino gene pool was handing out good looks like it was going out of fashion. But Haven inherited more from her mom, adorning the Olivia Munn look alike features that make me jealous every time I see her.

“Just trying to find my way through the mountain of textbooks,” she huffs. “There’s so many exams and so much to learn.”

“If anyone can do it, it’s you.”

Haven rolls her eyes.Did I mention she’s incredibly modest?It’s adorable, really. She knows how smart she is; she skippeda couple of grades in school because of it. But point it out to her and she gets a cute blush on her cheeks. She has this awkward look about her, like she doesn’t know how to take the compliment. It’s endearing, so damn adorable that I’m surprised she’s still single at twenty-one years old.

“What about you?” she asks, taking another sip of her latte. “When do you start with…” she glances around the small coffee shop warily, “you know…”

I finish off my coffee with a sigh. It’s a distraction, a caffeinated intrusion that helps me keep myself together, if only for a short while. “Not for a month. There’s a whole list of books I need to get, and I need to get my ID and…” I huff out loud. “It’s a lot.”

I’m still surprised I actually got in. This has been five years in the making, starting with legally changing my last name from Bonanno to Caruthers—my mom’s maiden name. That move started the war between me and my father, because even though I’d already told him I wanted nothing to do with the family business, taking matters into my own hands and formally changing my name was a big ‘fuck you’ to him and everything he’s built. Or at least that’s how he looked at it. For me, it was the equivalent of unlocking the cage I’d been trapped in for my entire life; my first step toward freedom.

After passing all the other prerequisites like fitness and written exams, I was still wary my background check wouldn’t pass. Aunt Lexie used her old connections to help push it through, so hopefully I’ll be able to continue flying under the radar and nobody will realize I’m the daughter of Axel Bonanno; the head of one of the leading crime families in the city. Even if I want nothing to do with that life, I’m sure I’d be kicked out of the academy swiftly if they found out who I really am.

“I take it you’ve still not told your dad?” Haven intrudes on my worrying thoughts.

I shoot her an accusatory glare. Of course I haven’t spoken to my dad about this, I haven’t even told my mom. Most of the conversations I have with my dad start with small talk and end up in screaming matches. There’s no way I can have a calm conversation with him about me wanting to join the NYPD. In his eyes, they’re the enemy. It doesn’t matter how many officers he has in his pockets, they’re nothing but an inconvenience to him. Me joining the police is only going to drive an even bigger wedge between us than my walking away from the family five years ago did.

I know deep down it’s because he wants to protect me. The justice system hasn’t done him any favors, even when he was innocent. It was my mom that got him out of doing jail time for a crime he didn’t commit. That’s how they met. My dad pretty much forced my mom to represent him. I’ve always wondered why she agreed to it. I know we have this saying,you don’t say ’no’ to The Five, but who really listens to that shit? It was cooked up by some idiot who was petrified of my dad and somehow it stuck. Still, my mom helped him prove his innocence, and the rest is history.

His distaste for the force is only reinforced by the awkward tension that sits between him and my Aunt Lexie. Though things have gotten a lot less tense since she left the NYPD, they still don’t see eye to eye on things. It’s probably time I talked to her about all this. She helped me out with my application, but she doesn’t know yet that I’ve officially been accepted into the academy.

She was supportive then, so I’m certain she’ll be just as supportive now.

“Lani,” Haven sighs, catching my attention. “You need to tell your dad. At the very least, tell Alvaro…”

“I know,” I reply, biting on my lip. “I just don’t know how to bring it up.” I trace my fingers over the little coffee bean imageimprinted on my mug, desperate for a distraction. Haven is the only person I allow to see me this vulnerable because she knows when not to push me for more. She can read me well enough to know when to leave things alone, which I appreciate her so much for. She’s got my back and I’ve got hers, but this isn’t something she can help me with. This is all on me.

“I know Varo will take it better than dad,” I admit. “But… I just don’t want another argument.”

“Well, why don’t you tell Varo this weekend?” she suggests. “Haldon’s got this big party on Saturday Night at Gemini Lounge.”

“A party?” I frown. Haldon never mentioned a party the other night, and I’m pretty sure he would have if it was something planned for all of us. That very thought sets like concrete in my veins. “Who’s the party for?” I ask, my fingers wrapping around the warmth of my mug.

Something tells me the next words out of Haven’s mouth aren’t going to be good, judging by the way she grimaces slightly.

“For Roman,” she murmurs.

My heart races, pounding so loudly in my ears that I barely hear what she says next. I try to focus on her lips, but I’ve never been a good lip reader. All I can hear is the loud buzz of my anger vibrating in my eardrums. The only words I pick up on are, “He’s back… for good.”

Suddenly, I’m finding it difficult to breathe. My chest feels like it’s encased in brick.No, he can’t be here. Roman should have gone back already. He never stays longer than a weekend, and that’s only if there’s a reason for him to stay. I thought he was just trying to piss me off the other night by telling me he was never leaving. I didn’t realize that those words were the first honest words out of his mouth.

I gulp in as much air as I can.

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