Chapter 7 - THE CLOCK TICKS
The grandfather clock in the safehouse living room ticked loudly.
3:14 AM.
We had less than five hours.
The safehouse was a modest, unassuming brick home in the suburbs, completely off the books. Luca had locked the doors, drawn the heavy curtains, and started a fire in the hearth.
Mateo was finally asleep on the sofa, covered in a thick wool blanket. His small hand still clutched the wooden rosary.
I sat in the armchair across from him, holding an ice pack to my bruised cheek and aching ribs.
Luca stood by the window, staring out into the dark street.
He was making calls on a burner phone. Short, clipped sentences in Italian.
When he finally hung up, he rubbed his face, looking exhausted. The flawless Mafia boss I had served dinner to hours ago was gone. In his place was just a father, desperate to protect his child.
“I’ve secured the estate,” Luca said, turning to me. “My loyal men have Daniel and Vanessa contained at the orphanage. They won't talk to the police. The families are being notified.”
“And the bomb?” I asked quietly.
Luca’s jaw clenched. “My mechanics are sweeping the cars right now. But Daniel is a professional. If he planted it, he hid it well.”
I looked at Mateo’s sleeping face. “What about Elena? Vanessa said Mercer killed her.”
Luca shook his head. “Daniel confessed before my men took him away. Mercer didn't kill her. Elena has been moving from motel to motel. Daniel was using Vanessa’s money to track her, but Elena was always one step ahead. She’s alive, Olivia. She’s out there.”
Relief washed over me, so strong I almost cried. Mateo still had his mother.
Luca walked over and sat on the coffee table in front of me.
He reached out and gently took the ice pack from my hand, examining my face.
His touch was surprisingly soft.
“You saved my son,” he said. “You threw yourself at an armed woman to protect a child you didn't even know.”
“He was scared,” I said simply, as if that explained everything. To me, it did.
Luca stared into my eyes. For a moment, the space between us felt electric, charged with something I had never felt before.
“I owe you my life, Olivia,” he whispered.
“You don't owe me anything,” I replied. “I just want to see him safe.”
Luca looked down at Mateo, a profound sadness in his eyes. “I have to go back to the estate.”
Panic spiked in my chest. “You can't! The bomb—”
“I won't get in a car,” he said firmly. “But the wedding was supposed to happen tomorrow. The heads of the Five Families are already arriving in Chicago. If I don't show up, they will assume weakness. They will smell blood in the water. I have to stand in front of them, expose Vanessa’s family for this treason, and claim my son.”
He looked back at me.
“I need you to stay here with Mateo. Keep him safe until I send my most trusted men for you.”
I looked at the little boy, then back to the man who was risking everything to fix his broken past.
“I will,” I promised.
Luca stood up. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a heavy gold watch—a family heirloom he always wore. He pressed it into my hand.
“If I don't call you by 9:00 AM,” he said, his voice thick with emotion, “take the boy and run. There is a bag of cash in the floorboard under the bed. Disappear, Olivia. Promise me.”
My fingers closed around the warm gold of the watch.
“I promise,” I whispered.
He leaned down and kissed Mateo’s forehead. Then, he looked at me one last time, turned, and walked out the door.
I was alone with his son.
The clock ticked.
At 7:45 AM, my phone rang.
But it wasn't Luca.
It was an unknown number.
I answered it, my hands shaking.
“Hello?”
“Olivia?” a woman’s voice said, breathless and weak. “Is he safe?”
It took me a second to realize who it was.
May you like
“Elena?” I gasped.
“They found me,” she sobbed, coughing heavily. “Vanessa’s men… they found me at the motel. I’m hurt, Olivia. But I need to know… is my baby safe?”
