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.

My breath caught in my throat. “Elena? Where are you? We need to get you an ambulance.”

“No hospitals,” she coughed, her voice agonizingly weak. “If it’s reported, Vanessa’s family will find out I’m alive. They’ll use me to get to Luca. Just… tell me Mateo is safe.”

“He’s safe,” I said, tears spilling down my face. “He’s sleeping. Luca has him. Well, Luca found him. He’s at the estate dealing with Vanessa.”

A sharp intake of breath on the other end. “The estate? Olivia, what time is it?”

I looked at the heavy gold watch Luca had given me. “It’s 7:50 AM.”

“The bomb,” Elena gasped in panic. “Daniel told me before they left me for dead… the bomb isn't in Luca’s car.”

My blood ran cold. “What? Where is it?”

“It’s in the wedding venue,” Elena cried. “The chapel on the estate grounds. It’s wired to the organ. The moment the wedding march begins at 8:00 AM… it takes out everyone inside.”

I dropped the phone.

7:51 AM.

Luca was at the estate. The families were gathering in the chapel. He was going to confront them there.

I had nine minutes.

I couldn't call Luca—he had left his burner phone on the kitchen counter so it couldn't be tracked.

I looked at Mateo. He was still sleeping peacefully.

I grabbed the burner phone, dialed the one number I knew by heart from working at the mansion, and prayed.

“Moretti Estate, front gate,” a gruff voice answered.

“This is Olivia Hayes!” I screamed. “Listen to me! There is a bomb in the chapel! Do not let anyone play the organ!”

“Who is this?” the guard demanded.

“Get Luca Moretti out of that chapel right now!”

I hung up, scooped a sleeping Mateo into my arms, grabbed the bag of cash from under the floorboard, and ran out the back door. I couldn't stay here. If Elena had been found, the safehouse might not be safe for long.

I stole the rusty sedan Luca had parked in the garage and sped toward the Moretti estate.

I drove like a madwoman, breaking every speed limit, praying I wouldn't hear an explosion in the distance.

At 8:04 AM, I careened through the open iron gates of the estate.

There was no smoke. No fire.

The chapel was intact.

Dozens of armed men were swarming the grounds.

I slammed the brakes, tires screeching on the gravel driveway.

Before I could even open the door, Luca was there.

He ripped the driver's side door open, his eyes wild with terror. But when he saw me, and saw Mateo safe in the passenger seat, his knees almost gave out.

He pulled me out of the car and crushed me against his chest.

“You called the gate,” he breathed into my hair, his arms trembling. “We evacuated the chapel. The bomb squad found the C4 wired to the organ pedals. Two minutes, Olivia. You saved us by two minutes.”

I clung to him, burying my face in his shoulder. “Elena,” I sobbed. “Elena called me. She told me.”

Luca pulled back, his eyes widening. “Elena is alive?”

I nodded, wiping my face. “She’s hurt. Vanessa’s men attacked her. We have to find her.”

Suddenly, the heavy wooden doors of the mansion burst open.

Four of Luca’s highest-ranking captains walked out.

And dragging between them, wearing a dirtied, torn red engagement gown, was Vanessa Bellini.

Behind them walked the heads of the Five Families. Older men in sharp suits, their faces grim and unforgiving.

Luca turned, his arm still wrapped protectively around my waist. He stood tall, the undisputed boss once again.

Vanessa was thrown to the gravel at Luca’s feet.

“The evidence is conclusive, Luca,” said Don Carmine, the oldest of the bosses. “She conspired with your head of security to murder you, your heir, and all of us in that chapel.”

Vanessa looked up, her face streaked with mascara and tears. “Luca, please,” she begged, her arrogance completely broken. “I did it for us. I did it to make our empire stronger.”

Luca looked down at her with absolute zero emotion.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the silver St. Jude’s bracelet.

He dropped it in the dirt in front of her.

“Take her to the basement,” Luca said coldly to his men. “And let her family know that the Bellini name no longer exists in Chicago.”

Vanessa screamed as they dragged her away.

Luca didn't flinch. He turned back to the car, gently lifting Mateo into his arms.

He looked at the Five Families.

“This is my son,” Luca declared, his voice ringing across the courtyard. “Mateo Moretti. My heir.”

The bosses bowed their heads in respect.