Chapter 72 Book 2 - Dakota: The Mafia Queen - Graduation
Dakota's P.O.V.
When Grandpa Chrissy died, it was the worst day of my life. I have been biding my time while I work on getting revenge for his death. I knew I couldn't fly off the handle and start pointing fingers, so I went to college as planned and graduated at the top of my class.
A week after Grandpa Chrissy died, his lawyer read his will. He split most of the money between my mom and my uncles. He also left trust funds for the grandkids. Regarding the business, he left me in charge of seventy-five percent and my uncles in charge of the other twenty-five percent. No one was surprised except for me. Everyone had always joked about me taking over one day, but I never thought they were serious. The business is mostly clean now, but there are a few parts that can't be totally clean. I have also learned that sometimes negotiations are necessary, and Grandpa's negotiation room is the best place for the job. When I think back, I realize Grandpa Chrissy had been grooming me to run the family business my entire life.
"Congratulations, sweetheart. I'm so proud of you." Mom hugs me, and Dad wraps his arms around both of us. They still make me feel like a kid sometimes, and I love it. I'm five feet two, and people constantly underestimate me because of my size. My mom says I'm sweet with a rattlesnake bite. I can be nice and your best friend, but if you piss me off or hurt my family, then there's hell to pay.
"Thanks, Mom." I hug my siblings, who are all taller than me. Even my baby sister, Khloe, is at least five inches taller than me, and she’s only eleven.
"Hey, short stuff." I punch Uncle Gavin in the arm before hugging him.
"I'm not short. Everyone else is just freakishly tall." I argue.
"I think you're perfect," Noah says, hugging me. He has grown so much in social skills and size. Most of the time, you can't even tell he has autism. He's a super whiz on the computer, and even though he's a year younger than me, he graduated from college last year.
"Of course you do because you love her." Sarah teases him as she hugs me. She got over her shyness a long time ago. I like to say it was my influence that made her more outspoken because she copied everything I said when she was little. Her brother Tyler isn't here. He enlisted in the military right after high school and is now overseas. None of them had grandparents, but Grandpa Chrissy considered them his grandkids and included them when he left trust funds.
"Of course, I love her. I love all my siblings." Noah is the biggest sweetheart anyone could ever meet, but he's timid around new people. One day, he will find a woman who truly appreciates him. If anyone hurts him, I will take them to the negotiation room. I still don't like guns, but I know how to hurt someone just the same.
I am now a black belt in karate, judo, and Taekwondo. I also took gymnastics for several years. Each of them taught me different fighting strategies. Being small and flexible does have some advantages. I can take down people much bigger than me without batting an eye.
I live at the compound now. I've been learning all the ins and outs of the family business from my uncles, which Grandpa Chrissy hadn’t already taught me. My mom and dad aren't happy with me taking over because they're afraid it will put a target on my back. I reminded them that being in this family already put a target on our backs.
My uncles have all moved out, but they live nearby with their families. Sarah, Noah, Tyler, and Uncle Yurkov's son, Luka, now all live at the compound. Together, we are trying to find the people responsible for our grandpa's murder. Our parents have no idea what we're doing. They think we're living together so we can be independent. Partially, that's true, but something else is motivating us.
When we reach the compound, the armed men at the gate let us in. I kept my grandpa's security. They were loyal to him, and they have been loyal to me. I am looking into a few who left after Grandpa Chrissy died because I want to know how that car was able to follow us through the gate with no one stopping it. To me, it seems like there was help from an inside person. I just need the proof.
I know the murder was four years ago, but I also know there is still evidence somewhere. The police dismissed it and didn't even attempt to investigate. My uncles said they looked at it as just the death of a crime boss and one less criminal on the streets. Grandpa Chrissy was a good man. I know he did some bad things, but he loved his family above everything else. The police have no right to judge him and let his murderer remain free.
"What are you going to do now that you're done with school?" my dad asks, sitting next to me at one of the tables. He and my mom have combined their businesses, and they keep trying to pressure me to work for them so that I can keep my distance from the family business.
"You know what I'm going to do, Dad. I'm going to run the family business. I want to make Grandpa proud." He looks worried, so I take his hand. I remember when Mom and I went on vacation and found him sick on the beach. I knew that he was going to be my daddy. When Mom was in the hospital after being shot, I needed him just as much as he seemed to need me. I was scared, but I knew she would be okay. Dad was a mess, and he clung to me like a lifeline. When he adopted me, it was one of the best days of my life. I love my parents, but running the family business is something I have to do.
"I'm scared you're going to get hurt. I know you're not going to be into the same things as your grandfather was, but that won't stop people from coming after you. Please be careful." I squeeze his hand.
"You know I'm always careful. I won't do anything stupid. I promise." He hugs me and returns to my mom. Even after eighteen years together, they're still as in love as they were when they first met. I smile as I watch them. Hopefully, one day, I'll find love like that. I haven't even thought about being with a man or getting into a relationship. Men ask me out all the time, but I'm not interested. I will find a man one day, just not right now. Right now, only one thing is on my mind: revenge.