THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED ME TO STOP THE SEVENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD PIANIST FROM PLAYING “THAT OLD FUNERAL MUSIC”—BUT AFTER FOUR NOTES, LUCA MORETTI PUT DOWN HIS WHISKEY AND ASKED, “WHO TAUGHT YOU MY MOTHER’S SONG?” “Make him stop.”

Luca stopped breathing.

He stayed on his knees, not moving a muscle, as if any sudden motion would break the fragile boy in front of us.

“The red lady lied,” Luca said, his voice breaking. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the wooden rosary.

He placed it gently on the dusty floorboards, sliding it across the room until it bumped against Leo’s small sneakers.

Leo looked down at the wooden beads.

His small hands trembled as he picked it up.

“My nonna’s,” Leo whispered.

“Yes,” Luca said, tears finally falling down his face. “Your grandmother’s. I promised your dad I would always protect you, Leo. I spent four years looking for you. I will never, ever let anyone hurt you again.”

Leo looked at Luca. Then he dropped the flashlight and ran across the room, throwing his small arms around Luca’s neck.

Luca buried his face in the boy’s shoulder and sobbed.

I stood by the doorway, wiping my own tears, overwhelmed by the sight of this powerful man completely surrendering to love.

But the moment shattered violently.

Red and blue lights flashed through the attic window, casting eerie shadows across the dusty walls.

Sirens wailed, loud and close.

We looked out the window.

Four police cruisers had blocked the bakery’s alleyway.

Officers were pouring out, weapons drawn.

And stepping out of a black town car behind them was Vanessa Bellini.

She looked up at the window and smiled.

“Police! Come out with your hands up!” a megaphone blared.

Luca stood up, pulling Leo behind him.

“How did she find us?” I panicked.

“She didn’t track us,” Luca realized, his jaw clenching. “She called the police. She framed me.”

Luca picked up Leo, holding him tightly to his chest. “Stay close to me, Emma.”

We walked down the stairs and out the front door.

Flashlights blinded us instantly.

“Put the boy down, Moretti!” a police captain shouted.

“He’s my nephew!” Luca yelled back. “This woman kidnapped him!”

Vanessa stepped forward, looking perfectly distressed. She wiped a fake tear from her cheek.

“Captain, thank god you found them,” she cried. “Luca lost his mind tonight. He broke off our engagement and then dragged his poor maid into this delusion. He thinks this orphan is his dead nephew.”

“He IS my nephew!” Luca roared.

Vanessa pulled a thick, folded document from her designer purse and handed it to the police captain.

“I am the legal guardian of this child,” Vanessa said smoothly. “His name is Samuel. I sponsor him through the state. Here are the guardianship papers, signed by Judge Harrison himself. Mr. Moretti kidnapped him tonight in a fit of grief.”

The captain reviewed the papers. He nodded.

“Officers, take the child. Arrest Moretti.”

Two officers stepped forward.

Leo screamed, clinging to Luca’s shirt. “No! Don’t let the red lady take me! Uncle Luca!”

My blood boiled.

I looked at Vanessa, acting the perfect victim, standing under the streetlights.

That was when I saw it.

Hanging from Vanessa’s wrist was the heavy silver charm bracelet.

The same bracelet her "nurse" wore at the hospital.

I remembered something my father had tried to show me before his stroke. A letter he hid in his bakery ledger.

“Stop!” I screamed, stepping between the police and Luca.

I pointed directly at Vanessa.