Roman rarely spoke about his family. That afternoon, standing beside the gray water of Lake Michigan, he finally told her why. His father had controlled businesses through bribes and threats.

When Roman was twenty-two, a warehouse fire killed two workers because the building had failed inspection, and Roman’s father paid officials to suppress the report.

Roman had turned the records over to federal prosecutors. His father died before the case reached trial, but the Falco family never forgave Roman for choosing strangers over blood.

“You inherited the empire anyway,” Harper said.

“I inherited the parts no one else could operate.”

“And the rumors?”