"Come in," I said, stepping aside.
Rico set down his controller. "Julian, you want me to bounce? This looks like family business."
"Stay," I said, closing the door behind Chen. "Ms. Chen, right? From Chen & Associates."
"That's correct." She surveyed Rico's apartment—gaming setup, pizza boxes, anime posters. Not exactly a place for high-stakes legal meetings.
"So," I leaned against the wall, "inheritance from my mother's side. The one my father doesn't know about."
Rico's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, what? You have a secret mom?"
"Apparently." I kept my eyes on Chen. "Want to explain that?"
Chen set her briefcase on Rico's coffee table, moving his energy drink cans aside. "Your mother was Elena Vasquez. She worked for... let's call it a consulting firm."
"What kind of consulting?" Rico asked.
"The kind that solves problems permanently," I said.
Chen nodded. "She was very good at her job. Until she met your father."
"You've been watching me, haven't you?"
Her professional mask cracked slightly. "Not watching. Waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"For you to become worthy of her legacy." She studied my face like she was looking for someone else. "You have her eyes, but his ruthlessness."
Rico muted his headset. "Bro, she's getting emotional. That's either really good or really bad in our world."
"You did a poor job staying objective," I observed.
"What do you mean?"
"You care too much about this. This isn't just business for you."
Chen was quiet for a long moment. When she spoke, her voice was softer. "Your mother saved my life when I was fifteen. Human trafficking ring. She killed four men that night to get me out."
"Damn," Rico whistled low. "Your mom was a real one."
"Elena took me in, trained me, gave me a purpose." Chen's hands trembled slightly as she opened her briefcase. "I've spent twenty years building what she started. Waiting for you to be ready."
"Ready for what?"
"To inherit her war."
[Hidden Quest Discovered: Blood Legacy]
[Potential Rewards: Unknown]
[Risk Level: Extreme]
I moved to the window, checking the street. Something felt wrong.
"There's someone aiming at you," I said, spotting the red dot dancing across the glass.
Chen didn't flinch. "Let them aim. I've been ready to die for this cause for twenty years."
Rico immediately hit the floor. "Snipers? Julian, this inheritance shit is getting serious."
"You're okay with that?" I asked Chen.
"I'm okay with keeping my promise to the only person who ever gave a damn about me." She pushed papers toward me across Rico's table. "Sign, and I'll tell you how she really died."
Rico crawled behind his couch. "J, maybe take these meetings somewhere more bulletproof next time?"
I pulled out my phone, texting Marco: "I need you to tell your boys to eliminate any threats around Rico's building. Remember, you owe me."
Marco called immediately.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" His voice was tight.
"There are snipers watching me. Clean them up."
"Julian, I don't have boys stationed—"
"Marco." My voice went cold. "I just survived your assassination attempt. I could have killed you for that. Instead, I'm giving you a chance to pay your debt."
Rico peeked over the couch. "Did you just... casually order a hit cleanup? On a Wednesday?"
Silence on the phone. Then Marco: "What kind of threats?"
"Professional ones. Not your usual street trash."
"This isn't my operation."
"Then whose is it?"
"I don't know, but... Julian, Dad's been acting strange. Making calls, bringing in new people. This might be bigger than our family drama."
"Handle it, Marco. Or I start making calls of my own."
"Fine. But this makes us even."
"No, this makes us not-enemies. There's a difference."
I hung up.
[Relationship Status: Marco - Hostile > Cautious]
[Favor Bank: +1 Marco owes Julian]
Chen looked impressed. "You're learning."
"What's in the briefcase?" I asked.
She opened it fully. Inside: bearer bonds, property deeds, USB drives, and a leather journal.
"Fifty million in untraceable accounts. Properties in six countries. Contact lists for judges, politicians, and police commissioners." She held up the journal. "And your mother's private notes. Everything she learned about your father's business."
Rico's voice was muffled from behind the couch. "Holy shit, Julian. You're actually rich."
"There are conditions," Chen continued. "Accept this inheritance, and you inherit her enemies. Refuse it, and her network dissolves forever."
"What enemies?"
"Everyone who benefits from keeping women powerless. Your mother built an underground railroad for trafficked girls, funded by stolen crime money." Chen's eyes hardened. "She made a lot of powerful people very angry."
[Choice Detected]
[Option 1: Accept Inheritance - Gain Network, Gain Enemies]
[Option 2: Refuse - Lose Opportunity Forever]
[Option 3: Negotiate Terms]
"I need time to think."
"You have until tomorrow night. After that, the network scatters." Chen stood, closing the briefcase. "Your mother's last words were about you, Julian. She said you'd either destroy everything she built, or become something greater than your father ever was."
The red dot disappeared from the window. Marco's people were efficient.
"Meeting's over," I said. "Rico, you can come out."
He stood up, pizza grease still on his shirt. "Bro, your life went from complicated to completely insane."
"That's new?"
"No, but now there's inheritance money involved." He grinned. "Can I at least get a better security system? Like, bulletproof windows?"
"I'll see what I can do."
After Chen left, I sat on Rico's couch, staring at the business card she'd left behind.
"You okay?" Rico asked.
"Define okay."
"Like, on a scale of one to 'completely fucked,' where are we?"
"Somewhere around 'interesting.'"
My phone buzzed. Text from an unknown number: "Going home. Security detail will follow. - Chen"
Then another text. Marco: "Threats eliminated. We need to talk."
"Rico," I said, standing up. "I gotta go."
"To do what?"
"Family business."
"The dangerous kind or the really dangerous kind?"
"Both."
---
Twenty minutes later, I was back at my apartment building. Black SUVs were parked outside. Don Salvatore's men.
"Mr. Marino," their leader nodded as I approached. "We're your security detail."
"Since when do I rate protection?"
"Since you started making waves. Don's orders."
I pushed past them into the building. Marco was sitting in my apartment, looking uncomfortable in one of my leather chairs.
"Figured you'd follow them," I said, loosening my tie.
"Dad made me. Said you might reject protection." Marco wouldn't meet my eyes. "Julian, about Sonia... she's not just some college girl."
"Define 'not just.'"
"The Ricci family used to run numbers for the Colombians. Before they got wiped out. Sonia's the last one."
[New Information: Sonia's Hidden Past]
[Quest Added: Investigate the Ricci Connection]
"So?"
"So Dad thinks you're being played. Again."
"And you?"
Marco finally looked at me. "I think you're playing everyone else. The question is, what's your endgame?"
Before I could answer, my phone rang. Unknown number.
"Julian Marino."
"This is Donald." My eldest brother's voice was ice. "Dad's throwing a gathering tomorrow night. Family only. You're expected."
I almost laughed. The heir apparent, calling personally.
"How thoughtful."
"Eight PM. Formal attire. Don't embarrass the family."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
"Julian." His voice dropped. "Whatever game you think you're playing... remember your place."
"Which place is that?"
"The expendable one."
He hung up.
Marco was watching me carefully. "You know it's a trap, right?"
"Everything's a trap, Marco. The trick is making sure you're the hunter, not the prey."
"Donald's been asking questions about you. About the old Julian versus the new Julian."
"What kind of questions?"
"The kind that end with people disappearing."
I walked to my window, looking down at the street. Chen's car was gone, but I could see other watchers. Too many players in this game.
"Tell Donald I'll be there," I said.
"That's it? No strategy? No backup plan?"
"Marco, the only backup plan I need is being better than everyone else in the room."
"And if you're not?"
I smiled. "Then tomorrow night gets very interesting."
[Quest Triggered: Survive the Family Gathering]
[Family Tension: Critical]
[Donald's Suspicion: Maximum]
After Marco left, I sat alone with my thoughts. The inheritance, the party, the growing threats—all pieces on a board I was still learning to play.
My phone buzzed. Text from Sonia: "Can we talk? There's something I need to tell you before tomorrow."
Another piece. Another secret.