Detective Veranda Cruz’s ultimate showdown with the patriarch of a notorious crime family tests her loyalty, courage, and identity in a riveting thriller by the bestselling author of The Cipher. Detective Veranda Cruz’s single-minded mission to destroy the Villalobos crime family has cost her more than she ever would have imagined, both professionally and personally. And put her squarely in their sights. A brutal enforcer has agreed to turn state’s evidence, offering vital information that will end the Villalobos dynasty’s thirty-year reign of terror. But when an extradition operation crashes and burns, a new series of murders terrorizes the city. As Veranda navigates increasingly deadly threats, she realizes the mastermind pulling the strings is the organization’s notorious patriarch: Hector Villalobos. After she deals his empire a stunning blow, Hector declares all-out war, arriving in Phoenix for a final showdown with Veranda. She has no choice but to confront him and the twisted ties that bind them. It’s a battle only one of them can survive.