THE MAID, THE MAFIA BOSS, AND THE STOLEN HEIRLOOM

We returned to the mansion.

The police had cleared the area of Vanessa’s men. The guests had been sent home. The grand house felt hollow, smelling faintly of smoke and spilled wine.

Sofia sat on the living room sofa, holding her sleeping children against her chest. She looked up as Luca and I walked in.

“Is it over?” Sofia asked, her voice exhausted.

“For you, yes,” Luca said softly, kissing his sister’s forehead. “Take the kids upstairs. My men will guard the door.”

Daniel was nowhere to be found. He had woken up and fled into the night like a coward.

Luca walked to his study. I followed him. I shouldn’t have. I was just the maid. My shift was over hours ago. But my mother was safe because of him, and I couldn't just walk away.

Vanessa was tied to a leather chair in the corner of the study, glaring at us.

“You’re going to die tonight, Luca,” Vanessa spat.

Luca ignored her. He poured a glass of whiskey, his hands perfectly steady, though I could see the tension in his jaw.

“Mr. Moretti,” I said quietly. “What did the man on the phone mean? About the necklace?”

Luca drank the whiskey in one swallow. “The necklace Vanessa accused Sofia of stealing. I bought it at an auction three weeks ago.”

Vanessa laughed harshly. “He bought it for me. A wedding gift.”

“It wasn't for you,” Luca said, not looking at her. “It belonged to the Bellini family. Your family, Vanessa.”

Vanessa stopped laughing. “What?”

“Your father hid a microchip inside the main pendant before he was sent to prison,” Luca explained, finally looking at his fiancée. “It contains the offshore account numbers holding fifty million dollars. I bought it to ensure your father’s old crew couldn't rebuild.”

Vanessa’s eyes widened. She had stolen the necklace to give to Daniel, unaware she was handing away fifty million dollars.

“The man on the phone,” I realized. “He used her to get the necklace back.”

“Exactly,” Luca said. He picked up his gun, checking the magazine. “And now he wants me to bring Vanessa to the steel mill so he can eliminate the last loose ends.”

“You’re not going to hand me over to them!” Vanessa panicked, struggling against the zip-ties.

“No,” Luca said coldly. “I’m going to kill them.”

He walked toward the door.

“Sir,” I said, stepping in his path.

He stopped. “Emily, go home. Your mother is waiting.”

“You can’t go alone,” I said, my voice trembling but firm. “It’s a trap. If they have the money, why do they need you to come to the mill? They’re luring you there to ambush you.”

Luca looked down at me. “I know it’s an ambush, Emily. But he insulted my mother’s grave. I don’t have a choice.”

He walked past me.

I stood in the silent study, looking at Vanessa.

“You’re pathetic,” Vanessa sneered at me. “You think he cares about you? You’re just the help.”

I looked at the beautiful, cruel woman who had poured wine on my head to protect her own selfish lies.

Then I looked at Luca’s desk.

Resting near the computer was a small, heavy iron key. The key to the mansion’s ancient utility tunnels.

I grabbed it.