A Hungry Girl Found Him Shot With a Baby in His Arms—Unaware He Was the Mafia Boss

The man on the phone was Marco—Dominic’s younger brother and the only officer in the Moretti Syndicate who had remained loyal when the coup erupted forty-eight hours ago.

Over the next two hours, while Dominic lay bound to the bed receiving plasma, he and Marco pieced together the full scope of the betrayal.

Julian, Dominic’s trusted consigliere and childhood friend, had orchestrated a massive internal ambush at the river warehouses. He had paid off a faction of mercenary enforcers to eliminate Dominic and his infant son during a routine harbor inspection. The goal was simple: eradicate the main Moretti bloodline, frame a rival syndicate for the assassination, and take control of the multi-billion-dollar empire.

"Julian has surrounded the main estate in Lincoln Park," Marco explained over the encrypted line. "He's calling an emergency council meeting of the Five Families tonight at midnight to solidify his claim as boss. If he takes the oath before the Council, it won't matter if you walk back in—the law of the syndicate will side with him to avoid a city-wide war."

Dominic slammed his fist against the bed frame, his jaw clenching so hard a vein throbbed on his temple. "He picked the night of my son's six-month birthday to cut my throat."

"Dominic, you can't fight him right now," Hannah interrupted, stepping between the bed and the phone. She looked at him sternly. "Your incision is held together by thread and prayer. If you move aggressively, the stitches will tear, and you'll bleed to death before you reach his front door."

Over the speaker, Marco went silent for three seconds. "Who is that? Dominic, who is with you? Is Leo safe?"

"She is the reason I'm breathing, Marco," Dominic said, his gaze never leaving Hannah. "Her name is Hannah Blythe. She and her sister took us in."

"A civilian?" Marco sounded stunned. "Dominic, Julian's men are sweeping the city for anyone connected to you. If they find out two civilian girls helped you, they’ll execute them!"

Hannah felt a cold chill run down her spine, but she refused to let her knees shake. She looked at Jade, who had woken up and was sitting quietly on the couch, holding little Leo in her arms. They had nowhere to run. Their apartment was likely already being watched by landlords or police, their bank accounts were empty, and they were caught right in the epicenter of a mob war.

"They won't find us," Hannah said into the phone, her voice surprisingly steady. "Because we aren't leaving this safehouse until this is over."

Dominic looked at her with a profound, quiet awe. "Hannah... you don't have to stay here. I can have Marco wire five million dollars to an offshore account right now. He can extract you and your sister to Canada tonight."

Hannah walked over to the bed, looking down at the ruler of the Midwest underworld.

"Money won't fix this, Mr. Moretti," she said softly. "If Julian takes over, he’ll hunt anyone who ever touched Leo. You think a man who orders the death of a baby will let two witnesses live in Canada?" She shook her head. "No. The only way my sister and I are ever truly safe... is if you get your empire back."

Dominic stared up at her. The sheer fire in her brown eyes, the unyielding strength wrapped inside such a delicate, impoverished girl, made something deep inside his chest shatter and rebuild itself in an instant.

"Marco," Dominic commanded softly into the phone.

"I'm here, boss."

"Bring the armory transport to 4th and Elm at ten o'clock tonight," Dominic ordered, his eyes never leaving Hannah's face. "And bring a dress. An emerald silk dress. Size four."