“All of You, Come With Me,” the Mafia Boss Said — Five Siblings Followed Him Into the Night

The mansion was not in the city. It was perched on a cliffside overlooking Lake Michigan, a monolith of black steel and floor-to-ceiling glass that looked more like a fortress than a home.

When they arrived, the transition was jarring. From the freezing alleyway to a foyer heated to a perfect, humid warmth. Servants—or perhaps guards, they were hard to tell apart—moved silently through the halls.

Sable stared at the marble floors, clutching her one-eyed rabbit. Prosper was still trembling, but the shock had rendered him mostly silent. Ren, however, was the one who surprised them all. As they walked through the grand corridor, Ren stopped. He didn't look at the art or the high ceilings. He looked at a small, recessed space near the library, a quiet alcove where a single, simple candle burned. He walked toward it, his small, dirt-caked feet making no sound on the expensive rug.

"He knows," Vane said softly, appearing behind Emer.

"Knows what?" Emer asked, still defensive.

"Safety," Vane replied. "He recognizes a place where the shadows don't hunt."

Vane led them to a dining room that could have housed their entire old neighborhood. A table set with food that looked like it had been pulled from a magazine—roasted chicken, fresh rolls, fruit that wasn't bruised.

"Eat," Vane commanded, not unkindly. "Then, we speak about what comes next."

Sve didn't hesitate. She began feeding Ren, who ate with a ferocious, animalistic hunger. Emer watched Vane, his eyes narrowing. "Why us? What do you want from us?"

Vane stood by the window, watching the moonlight dance on the choppy lake water. "I once had a brother, Emer. He wasn't as strong as you. He didn't make it out of a situation much like yours. I spend my money on many things. Some are investments. Some are penance. Tonight, you are both."