**THE MAFIA BOSS SAW HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER COME IN FROM THE RAIN HOLDING HER LATE HUSBAND'S DOG'S EMPTY LEASH—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “HE RAN OUT THROUGH THE SIDE GATE,” BEFORE LUCA EVEN ASKED WHERE THE OLD DOG HAD GONE.**

“He took her four years ago,” Teresa wept, collapsing back onto the bed. “The night your father died. Carlo’s men raided the safe house. Antonio tried to fight them off… that’s how his heart gave out.”

Luca’s face went completely blank. The grief and rage were so overwhelming they simply short-circuited his expressions.

“Carlo has had my daughter for four years,” Luca repeated slowly.

“He threatened to hurt her if Antonio didn't sign the merger,” Teresa said. “When Antonio died, Carlo forced the engagement with Vanessa. He promised that when you married her, he would give Mia back to us.”

“And you kept this from me.”

“He said he would kill her if you found out, Luca! What was I supposed to do?”

Luca didn't yell. He didn't break anything.

He just turned to me.

“Claire. Take my mother and Walter. Go down the back stairs to my private garage. Take the black SUV and drive to the safe house in the city.”

“What are you going to do?” I asked, terrified.

Luca picked up the crowbar.

“I’m going to go have a talk with my uncle.”

Ten minutes later, I was driving the armored SUV through the blinding rain, Teresa in the passenger seat, Walter shivering in the back.

But as we approached the city, a black sedan swerved violently into our lane, forcing me to slam on the brakes.

We skidded to a halt in an empty parking lot.

The doors of the sedan opened, and three men stepped out.

I locked the doors, my heart hammering in my throat.

But it wasn't Carlo’s men.

It was Vanessa.

She walked through the rain, an umbrella shielding her, and tapped on my window.

I rolled it down an inch.

“You really think you can run, Claire?” Vanessa smiled perfectly.

“Leave us alone,” I said, gripping the steering wheel.

Vanessa sighed. “Tell Teresa I want the silver bracelet back. It belongs to my family.”

Teresa rolled down her window. “You’ll have to cut it off my wrist, Vanessa.”

Vanessa’s smile widened. “Don't tempt me, Auntie. By the way, Luca is currently walking into a trap at my father’s estate. He won't survive the night.”

She dropped a small envelope through the crack in my window.

“Give that to the police when they find his body.”

She walked back to her car and drove away.

I opened the envelope with shaking hands.

Inside were two plane tickets to Italy. One for Antonio. One for Mia.

Dated the day after Antonio died.

“He was trying to escape with her,” I whispered.

Teresa looked at the tickets, sobbing.

I looked at the older woman, then at the old dog in the backseat.

I wasn't a mafia soldier. I was just a maid.

But I knew what family meant.

I put the car in reverse.