Chapter 1: Death in the Family

A single hand came up to smooth back the loose strands of his black hair, which kissed the nape of his neck. Satisfied with how each hair rested neatly in place, he moved to straighten his tie. Today it would be black, in honor of the news he had been burdened with delivering to the rest of his associates. Pale, slender fingers rested on the silk of the tie once it was set into place and blue eyes stared back at a vacant expression in the mirror he stood in front of.

Almost fifteen years he had been working with the Monroe family and now he was tasked with handling the most devastating news about them. His employer had been very good to him in exchange for his unyielding loyalty and devotion to the organization. It would be a lie to say he didn’t feel the weight of the circumstance. But, ever poised, he was determined to maintain his calm demeanor if only for the sake of everyone else.

Jamison Bright was a sharp individual with an even sharper trigger finger. His talents and keen eye was what had made him a valuable asset to the Monroe family. A family that had been in charge of New York for years now. Handling things under the guise of politics or behind closed doors. Their organization was what ruled the city and took on the dirty work it took to do just that. Jamison was their top trigger man for that very purpose. He’d worked as the Boss’s second hand for a long time now and took his job seriously.

That being said, when the news came in that morning that Warren Monroe, the current boss, was found dead in his office, it fell on Jamison’s shoulders to handle the next steps. There was an heir to the title of boss. Luckily, the heir was someone that Jamison had spoken to on occasion. Warren had only one child, a son, and he would be the one to take up the mantle as head of the organization. It was Jamison’s duty to inform the team and make sure the word got out.

It was a task that he was fully prepared to handle. He only had one real concern on the matter, truthfully. That was the fact that Warren’s son, Kade Monroe, had little experience in their world and he was only twenty-one years old. By their history, it would mean that he would become the youngest of the Monroe family to ever take up the mantle. Jamison would stand behind his former boss’ wishes without hesitation, but he was still uncertain how everyone else would receive young Kade.

A sigh exited his lips and he turned away from the mirror. The time had come to go and face everyone and his new boss. Kade would be waiting for him in the office that just this morning, Warren had occupied. Once the formalities were out of the way on their end, it would be time to call in the rest of the Monroe inner circle. A small band of gangsters of the highest degree. Each of them skilled in various things and every single one of them the most trusted.

Jamison knew for a fact that none of them had ever met Kade. He’d been a little treasure his father hid away from common knowledge until the day would come when it would be his turn to step up.

Headquarters was set inside the Monroe home, which was a luxurious manor in the wealthier part of New York. This was where Jamison would be meeting with Kade and then bringing the rest of their team in. His boss’ office was set on the second floor of the beautiful home in a large, spacious office complete with antique couches and a large solid oak desk. Much like the rest of the home, the office was exquisitely decorated with maroon and gold and furnished with antique furniture. It was a place where Jamison spent many years in his service and where he could most likely be found. Always by his boss’ side, except for that morning when he had to step out.

“Mr. Monroe,” Jamison spoke through the outside of the office door and gave it a gentle knock.

“You may enter,” the youthful voice came from within, soft and quiet.

Without any hesitation once he was given permission, Jamison opened the office door and entered at last. He stopped just within the threshold, his hand on the golden handle of the door while his gaze shifted over to the desk.

Where a powerful, middle-aged man once sat with his graying beard and peppered hair now was occupied by a young man. A young man who resembled his father with strong features and a fierce gaze, but lacked the hardness Warren had. There was a softness to the honey brown gaze Jamison met when he came in through that door and not a single sign of aging in those chocolate brown locks which were secured neatly in a medium length braid.

“I don’t know if you remember me, my name is Jamison Bright. I will be serving as your second, unless you wish to appoint someone else,” Jamison said with a nod of respect to Kade. “I’m sorry that we have to meet like this, Mr. Monroe.”

“Please, call me Kade. I would be more than happy to keep you aboard as my second. My father always spoke highly of your abilities,” Kade replied and returned his nod.

Jamison studied Kade after he spoke and tried to determine what kind of mood he was going to set for this meeting. The look on his face seemed somber, but he didn’t see any sign of weakness. Despite how inexperienced he knew Kade to be, the look in his eyes was determined. It told Jamison that while he spoke softly and had a young face, Kade was strong minded. He wouldn’t be so easily swayed by anyone. Which had him feeling at least a little bit more confident that Kade would be able to handle the rest of the inner circle. It was everyone else now that he had to worry about.

“It is an honor to continue to serve the Monroe family,” Jamison said with another nod. “In light of the news, I’ve sent a message to the others to meet us here. They should all be downstairs waiting for us.”

Kade nodded and simply stood from behind the desk. “I’m ready. I feel it’s better to get this over with sooner than later.”

Jamison’s face didn’t betray the fact that the display of maturity and determination impressed him. Remaining cool and calm as he often did, Jamison just nodded in response to his words and stepped aside from the door. The hand that was resting on the handle now pulled open the office door for his new boss to pass through. Perhaps, his young age and inexperience wouldn’t be too much of a disadvantage, he thought. While he had big shoes to fill in Warren’s wake, his first impression thus far was that Kade might be able to step into them in time. They still had an important meeting to sit through, of course.

The two descended down the steps of the second floor to the foyer, a small room just inside the main entrance into the manor. Standing around the foyer was a trio of familiar faces to Jamison. They were his associates, the other members of the Monroe inner circle and above all else, his closest friends. Each of them were a little bit older than himself and none as young as Kade, but their personalities were varied enough that he thought they could all fit in well together.

At the sound of their footsteps on the polished marble floors, the trio stopped the conversation they were busy with and turned to watch the two of them descend down the stairs. Each of them turned fully to face Jamison and Kade and even took a step back in order to take them both in.

There was a tense silence that filled the air and Jamison knew the three well enough to know that they were all wondering what was going on and who they were in the presence of. Jamison had only told the three of them that the meeting was important and they all had to be present. He felt that the news of their former boss’ passing would be better said in person than through a message.

“Sorry for the short notice, but I’m glad you all got my message this morning,” Jamison spoke first, addressing the trio.

“What’s this about, Jamison?” The only woman of the trio spoke up. Her emerald gaze moved from his face and then over to Kade. “And who is this?”

Jamison cleared his throat. “This is Kade Monroe, as of today he is in charge of the entire organization.”

The other three exchanged looks before the older of the three, characterized by the flecks of gray in his hair, took a step forward. “What do you mean? Has the boss decided to retire?”

Jamison opened his mouth to speak, but Kade held a hand out to him and silenced him. “My father met an untimely death just this morning, I’m afraid. I understand the circumstances may not be ideal, but I intend to lead this organization just as he did, if not more efficiently.”

The three standing before them all looked to each other and exchanged glances. None of them broke their composure, having had years of experience in keeping themselves calm. Whatever their thoughts and feelings were under the surface of the news was currently hidden beneath their professional facades. A display of any true colors would probably take some time and the earning of trust.

“How exactly do you plan to do that?” the woman questioned again. She raised her arms to cross them under her chest.

Kade settled his eyes on her. “By making it my first priority to find out who killed my father and purge our operation from any traitors that might be lurking within. I have no doubt the one responsible is in our ranks and I will find them.”

There was conviction in those words. With it, a silence fell over the foyer. A silence so heavy that not one of them dared to take another breath while the weight of those words sank in.

Traitors. There might be traitors within their organization and they might be responsible for the death in the Monroe family. A death to the legacy that had been hovering over New York for generations. If Kade was going to find out who was responsible for it, then Jamison would stand beside him, and it didn’t matter who opposed him from that moment forward.