Chapter 1

I’m going to make everything around me beautiful. That will be my life. 
- Elise de Wolfe

Kenna

It’s late August, just a few days before Labor Day. Miami is always packed, but it’s bound to be loaded. Everyone is going to flush into my city before all the kiddos go back to school, for their one last hoorah of freedom. I don’t blame them, I would probably do the same if I was in their position. Who knows if I ever will be. I’m not exactly the motherly type. My sole concern is Miami, and how to keep the streets safe. Before my father took over twenty years ago, Miami was nothing but a fucking mess.

I remember that time so well, I was seven the day I saw him smile for the first time. His happiness is his work, and while I don’t always understand it - I respect it.

Jorge Vernon is the Kingpin of Miami, but the most important role he plays in my eyes is my father. Before he took over. Scratch that, I shouldn’t say took over. My father destroyed every ounce of vermin in the city and took pride in doing so. He saw how corrupt it was and decided to do something about it. He was a man who was in the trenches; a man from the bottom, who rose to the top through success, connections and honoring his word. Many children wouldn’t be proud to have their father as a kingpin; however, I couldn’t be prouder. His love for this city is undeniable, as is mine.

I roll over, staring into the blazing Miami sky. It’s a hot one out today, a real scorcher. I decided instead of going to the gym, I was going to lay out on the beach and get a little vitamin D. I can see my fun being ruined as Philip comes trotting down the stairs that lead down onto the beach from my property. He is one of many who my father employs to keep me safe, although I tend to request Philip the most. The others give me the creeps sometimes, and I barely let the man have a day off because of it.

“Have you come to ruin my fun already, P?” I put my hands behind my body and push myself up, staring at him before I look at my watch. I’ve only been out here for an hour, and he knows not to disturb me unless it’s urgent.

“Your father is requesting you,” he states, and I nod at his words. My father will just have to wait, I need to get showered and ready before I go to see him.

“Call him back and tell him I’ll be at least an hour before I can get to his office.” I collect the beach towel from the sand and shake it, allowing the small particles to go back to where they once came from.

“Sorry, Ma’am. I can’t do that. He’s waiting for you in the kitchen. I have Sara prepping lunch for the two of you now,” I roll my eyes. Just as I’m about to speak, Philip starts, “Sara refuses to leave. She doesn’t care how many times you fire her; your father pays for her to be here and she will not take his money without working. Just accept it and let the woman work.”

“She can go do something for him, she doesn’t need to be in my house,” I argue, and Philip smiles back at me.

“She’s just as stubborn, if not worse than you are” I walk towards the stairs and he grabs my cover up from the railing and hands it to me. I slide it on my body as we walk towards my house.

“Let’s be honest, P. There is no one as stubborn as I am.” I add a smirk and wink before walking through the open door and into my kitchen. My father is sitting at the bar, eating some sort of steak concoction that Sara undoubtedly made for him. Next to it I see a chicken Caesar salad splayed out with a lemon water. I hated to admit it, but the woman always knew what I liked. Dad liked to make sure I was being taken care of, that I had food to eat, a house that was clean and a bodyguard to watch over me. I understand why. There is always a risk, especially in what he dabbles in. Men become greedy, and instead of going after their competition, they tend to target the loved ones of their competitor. My father has kept the peace for years, but I am not naive. There will be a time when blood is spilled yet again, and it will happen sooner rather than later.

“Is this a social visit, or business?” I ask him, popping a cherry tomato in my mouth. The sweetness overtakes my taste buds as I wait for his response, and when I see him place his silverware down I have my answer. Business it is.

“I know you’ve heard the rumors going around. You were probably one of the first and paid it no mind” He begins to go on about what I have heard on the streets and he is right, I have paid it no mind because I know it isn’t true. If it was, he would have told me already. It wouldn’t have gotten on the streets before I knew about it. “It’s true, Kenna. I plan on stepping down as soon as my plans are settled.”

“What the fuck does that even mean? When your plans are settled? Your plans are never settled...and how could you just decide this without talking to me?” I’m furious, and besides that, I’m truly hurt. He should have come to me before the rumor mill even started. I’m his daughter, his only child. This city is as much mine as it is his. I expected this day at some point, but never did I expect it to be so soon. I didn’t think that he was done yet...but I’m ready for this. I’m ready to keep the Vernon legacy alive, to make sure that Miami has order. The last thing I will ever do is let my city be anything but great. I remember what it was like here as a little girl, how much violence and drugs were on the streets. My father has done a lot to destroy it all, and while he is no saint, he sure makes everything as good as he possibly can.

“I am tired, mija. I have been doing this for many years, watching my life flash before my eyes. I take too many things for granted. For once I just want to sit on the beach and relax, not worry about business. I want to truly live, and I know you can understand why. Life is too short. You and I know that all too well, and how those we love can be taken from us so easily.”

Yeah, I do understand loss. My mother was killed when I was seven, just before my father took over the city. They wanted to get to him, and instead they took her out. It’s why he is so insistent on me having a bodyguard around. I can’t say I blame him, having Philip around makes me feel safer anyways. “I have already been looking into my replacements and have found two men who I believe would be a good fit for the city. The one thing we have always lacked is manpower, and both men hold it, but each in a different way. Their men aren’t bribed with money, or materialistic things. They hold loyalty to those who command them.” I listen to my father go on, about these two men and how he believes that one of them may be the right fit for the city.

The right fit for the city that should be mine. For the legacy that I am supposed to uphold. He’s giving my right over to someone...I haven’t helped him for all these years to be cast aside when it’s my moment to shine.

“I can’t believe the audacity that you have to give over my rightful place to anyone, a stranger nonetheless,” I grumble, glaring at him with all my might. My rage boils through every vein of my body, ready to erupt without notice.

“You think I would just give it to someone? No, no. That is not how this is works, mija. You are going to reign beside one of these men. You are the one tasked with choosing who is the best fit, not only for you, but for Miami.” He laughs, his voice echoing through my kitchen.

“I don’t understand,” I state lowly, searching his eyes for the answers that I seek. Subconsciously, I know exactly what he’s telling me. I’m anything but a dumb girl.

“Yes, you do. You will either choose Phoenix, the MC Prez, or Ascher who runs the car game. Not only are you choosing them for the city, darling. You are choosing who will have your heart as well, so make the right choice.”

I nod, accepting what he’s told me. I should’ve expected something like this. Honestly, I had. I just didn’t think it would involve his retirement or happen this late in my twenties. Marriages are almost never for love. They are for power. I’ve prepared myself for this since I was a little girl. What my father doesn’t realize is that my heart is  this city. I will choose whomever loves Miami as much as I do. My actual heart will have nothing to do with it. Only the wellbeing of the people who reside here.

Winnie is going to shit a brick when I tell her about this.