People always laughed when they heard his name, Domino. Paired with his distinctive attire and penchant for straw cowboy hats, the moniker attributed to his unique allure as a bodyguard. As a result, people rarely took him seriously upon their first meeting. 

Who does this motherfucker think he is? Skeptical men would sometimes ask that very question while strolling from my father’s office—all while Domino himself would watch quietly from the sidelines of the sprawling boardroom they’d been summoned to. 

The next time they were ever seen again would be in pieces, grimly documented by a medical examiner called to investigate the cause of death. Most determinations were just guesses, of course; woodchipper accident, bear attack, and the average sky diving mishap. 

My father controlled the police commissioner, so the official reason didn’t really matter. It could be as outlandish as “tiger mauling” and no one ever batted an eye. So was the hold the Pavalos family had over Terra Rodea—at least until the day my family was upended and Domino, that faithful soldier, set his sights on me. 

Killing me would have been merciful on his end. Even a supposed wild bear attack would have been a better ending than the one he had in mind.  

I never knew the extent of the hatred such a man could harbor. 

I never knew the violence one human soul could be capable of. 

I never realized that, when it came to destroying my father and toppling his million-dollar empire, Domino’s price would have been relatively inexpensive in the grand scheme. 

To betray my family, Domino Valenciaga requested only one thing. 

Me.