MAFIA BOSS'S DYING BABY REFUSED EVERY BOTTLE — UNTIL A GRIEVING MAID DID THE UNTHINKABLE

Mateo Moretti was a legend in the tri-state area—a ruthless, ancient mob boss who had ruled the rival family for forty years. He was the man who had ordered the car bomb that killed Lorenzo’s wife. He was the man who had spent two months trying to finish the job.

"Get away from him," Hunter spat, her voice trembling with a deadly mixture of rage and terror. She backed as far into the corner as the steel walls would allow.

Mateo looked down at her with cold, dismissive eyes. He didn't see a human being; he saw an obstacle.

"You're the maid," Mateo said, raising the revolver until the dark circle of the barrel was pointed directly at Hunter's forehead. "The one keeping the little rat alive. My informants inside the hospital told me Lorenzo found a nurse. I must admit... I was surprised when my men reported the baby hadn't died six weeks ago."

"He’s an innocent child!" Hunter yelled, her eyes locked on the gun. "He has nothing to do with your wars!"

"He has Lorenzo’s blood," Mateo replied coldly. "That makes him guilty enough. Now... hand the boy over, girl. And maybe I’ll make your death quick."

"No," Hunter said.

Mateo’s eyebrows rose in mild surprise. "No? Do you know who I am?"

"I don't care who you are," Hunter whispered, her voice settling into an eerie, unyielding calm. She looked Mateo straight in the eye. "You will have to pull this trigger, shoot through my chest, and tear him from my cold hands. And even then... Lorenzo will track you down and skin you alive."

Mateo’s face twisted into an ugly, furious scowl. "You think Lorenzo is coming to save you? Lorenzo is currently pinned down in his living room by six of my best hitters. By the time he clears them out, I’ll be on a boat to Miami with his son’s body."

He took a step forward, reaching out his left hand to grab Leo’s blanket.

Hunter didn't hesitate.

She pulled her right leg back and kicked out with every ounce of strength she possessed. Her heavy leather work shoe slammed directly into Mateo’s groin.

"Argh!" Mateo gasped, doubling over as a sickening crunch echoed in the small elevator.

Before he could recover, Hunter raised her heavy flashlight—a heavy-duty metallic Maglite she had snatched from the nursery counter before the lights went out—and swung it with all her strength.

CRACK.

The solid aluminum casing smashed into the side of Mateo’s jaw. Teeth flew across the elevator floor. Blood sprayed across the stainless steel wall as the elderly don staggered backward, slamming into the concrete wall of the bunker outside.

The revolver slipped from his hand, clattering onto the floor of the elevator.

Hunter didn't wait. She dove forward, snatched the gun off the floor, and slammed her hand against the elevator’s "DOOR CLOSE" button.

"You bitch!" Mateo shrieked, clutching his broken jaw, blood pouring through his fingers as he lunged toward the closing doors. "I’ll tear you apart!"

The heavy blast doors slid shut, sealing him out just as his bloodied fingers scraped against the steel.

Hunter collapsed against the wall of the elevator, the heavy revolver shaking in her right hand, her left arm holding Leo against her thumping heart. The baby was crying loudly now, terrified by the violence, but he was unharmed.