nDetective Veranda Cruzs 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.n nDetective Veranda Cruzs 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.n nA brutal enforcer has agreed to turn states evidence, offering vital information that will end the Villalobos dynastys 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 organizations notorious patriarch: Hector Villalobos.n nAfter 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. Its a battle only one of them can survive.n