THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME SERVE HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER WITH MY HAIR COVERING ONE EYE—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE HIT HER FACE ON THE PANTRY DOOR,” BEFORE HE HAD EVEN ASKED WHAT HAPPENED. I had almost made it around the table. Three more guests.

Daniel stood in the doorway, his face expressionless.

He was a man who had worked for Luca for ten years. He had eaten at his table, guarded his home, and now, he was pointing a gun at me while I held Luca’s crying son.

“Let her up, boss,” Daniel said softly.

Luca didn't move his knee from Vanessa’s back. “How long, Daniel?”

“Since Elena got pregnant,” Daniel replied casually. “Vanessa paid better. And she promised me the South Side territory once the two of you were married. But Elena ran before we could handle the situation. Took the kid. We’ve been looking for them for five years.”

I tightened my grip on Mateo. My bruised cheek throbbed, but the pain was nothing compared to the terror gripping my chest.

Vanessa struggled under Luca’s weight. “Kill him, Daniel! Kill all of them and make it look like a break-in!”

“Shut up, Vanessa,” Daniel sighed. He kept the gun trained on me. “Stand up, Luca. Slide your weapon across the floor. Or the maid gets it.”

Luca’s eyes met mine.

There was a silent conversation in that split second. He was apologizing. I was telling him not to.

Slowly, Luca stood up, raising his hands. He tossed his gun; it skittered across the wooden floorboards, stopping at Daniel’s feet.

Vanessa scrambled up, fixing her ruined red dress. She walked over and picked up the gun, aiming it at Luca’s chest.

“You should have just married me,” she spat.

Daniel checked his watch. “We need to move. The police will respond to the gunshot soon. Vanessa, take the kid. I’ll handle these two.”

Vanessa stepped toward me, reaching for Mateo.

“No!” I screamed, turning my body to shield him.

“Give me the brat!” she snarled, grabbing my hair.

Pain exploded in my scalp, pulling at the bruise on my face, but I refused to let go. Mateo was screaming, his little arms locked around my neck.

“Daniel, shoot her!” Vanessa yelled.

Daniel raised his gun.

He was focused entirely on me.

He forgot about Luca.

Luca didn't use a weapon. He used the room.

He grabbed the heavy bedside lamp, ripping the cord from the wall, and hurled it at Daniel’s face.

The heavy ceramic base smashed into Daniel’s temple. The gun fired wildly into the ceiling as Daniel stumbled backward, crashing into the hallway.

Vanessa gasped, turning her gun toward Luca.

But I didn't give her the chance.

Still holding Mateo with my left arm, I threw my body forward, driving my right shoulder into Vanessa’s stomach.

We crashed to the floor. The gun flew from her hand, sliding under the bed.

Vanessa scrambled for it, her manicured nails clawing at the floorboards.

I reached out and grabbed her ankle, yanking her back.

She kicked me, her heel striking my ribs, but I held on.

Luca leaped over us, sprinting into the hallway.

I heard a brutal, sickening crunch of bone, followed by a heavy thud.

The hallway went silent.

A second later, Luca appeared in the doorway. His knuckles were bloody, and Daniel was unconscious on the floor behind him.

Luca walked over to Vanessa, grabbed her by the collar of her ruined dress, and dragged her out from under the bed.

She was sobbing now, the fight completely gone.

Luca looked at her with a disgust so profound it made my skin crawl.

“You’re done,” he said softly.

He dropped her to the floor and turned to me.

I was sitting up, gasping for air, clutching Mateo to my chest.

Luca knelt beside us. He touched my unbruised cheek, his hand trembling.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine,” I breathed.

He looked at Mateo. “We need to get out of here. My safehouse is ten minutes away. Nobody knows about it. Not even Daniel.”

I nodded, standing up on shaky legs.

But as we stepped over Daniel’s body in the hallway, the head of security groaned.

He opened one bloodshot eye and looked at Luca. He was smiling. A sick, bloody smile.

“You think you won?” Daniel coughed, spitting blood onto the floorboards. “Vanessa isn't just trying to take your son, boss.”

Luca stopped. “What did you do, Daniel?”

Daniel laughed, a wet, rattling sound. “Tomorrow is your wedding day. All the family heads will be at the estate. Vanessa wasn't planning on marrying you. She was planning on attending your funeral.”