Chapter 2 - THE CHILD WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
Damiano had faced men who held weapons against his throat.
He had watched allies die without showing emotion.
He had ordered decisions that changed entire cities before breakfast.
Nothing had prepared him for the words Sofia spoke.
Mia is yours.
He looked at the child again.
The shape of her eyes.
The small curve beside her mouth.
The way she lifted one eyebrow when confused.
Isabella used to make the same expression.
Damiano stepped backward.
“No.”
Sofia flinched.
“I know how it sounds.”
“You do not know how anything sounds to me.”
Mia looked between them.
“Did I do something bad?”
Damiano’s anger vanished immediately.
He knelt.
“No.”
His voice softened.
“You did nothing wrong.”
“Then why is everyone scared?”
Because the dead had returned.
Because three years of grief might have been built on a lie.
Because someone had hidden his daughter inside his own house.
Damiano looked at Sofia.
“Take Mia to the blue sitting room.”
“Rafael will remain outside.”
Sofia shook her head.
“She stays with me.”
“No one is taking her from you.”
“You cannot promise that.”
“I can promise anything inside this house.”
Sofia’s eyes filled with something close to pity.
“That is what Isabella believed.”
The sentence struck him.
Rafael opened the sitting-room door.
Sofia led Mia inside.
Before the door closed, Mia looked back.
“Are you still coming tomorrow?”
Damiano held her gaze.
“Yes.”
She smiled.
Then the door shut.
Damiano turned toward Rafael.
“Lock the estate.”
“No guest leaves.”
Rafael hesitated.
“There are four dons inside the ballroom.”
“Then four dons will wait.”
“What do you want me to tell them?”
“The truth.”
“That a child misplaced her mother.”
Rafael nodded.
“And Silvio?”
“Bring him to my study.”
Within ten minutes, Silvio Marchetti sat across from Damiano’s desk.
He looked relaxed.
Too relaxed.
“You interrupted an important conversation,” Silvio said.
“A child was in danger.”
“A maid’s child.”
Damiano poured himself water.
He did not touch the whiskey waiting beside it.
“Why did you deny Sofia Bellini permission to bring Mia into the kitchen?”
Silvio smiled.
“I did not.”
“The house manager says otherwise.”
“Then he misunderstood me.”
“Did you know Sofia worked for Isabella?”
The smile disappeared.
Only briefly.
“No.”
Damiano watched him.
Silvio crossed one leg over the other.
“What is this about?”
“Mia asked me to attend a school event.”
Silvio laughed.
“You cannot be serious.”
“I am.”
“The five families will tear you apart.”
“They have tried.”
“This is different.”
“You are allowing strangers to believe you have a weakness.”
Damiano leaned forward.
“Every man in that ballroom has a weakness.”
“Most hide it behind bodyguards and tailored suits.”
Silvio’s jaw tightened.
“Do not confuse sentiment with strategy.”
“I never do.”
Damiano pressed a button beneath the desk.
The door opened.
Rafael entered carrying a tablet.
“Security footage from the service corridor.”
The screen showed Sofia speaking to the house manager before the gala.
Silvio approached them.
He pointed toward Mia.
The audio was clear.
“The child stays outside the main building.”
The manager objected.
Silvio lowered his voice.
“If Verrone sees her, you lose your position.”
The footage continued.
Sofia took Mia toward the kitchen despite the order.
Silvio followed them.
He entered the pantry alone.
Three minutes later, he emerged holding a red paper heart.
He examined the back.
He saw Isabella’s name.
Then he returned it to the counter.
Damiano stopped the video.
Silvio remained motionless.
“You recognized the name,” Damiano said.
“Everyone knows Isabella’s name.”
“You tried to remove Mia before I saw her.”
“I was preventing embarrassment.”
“Whose embarrassment?”
Silvio stood.
“This conversation is over.”
Damiano did not raise his voice.
“Sit.”
Silvio looked toward the door.
Rafael blocked it.
Damiano lifted the red heart.
“If you leave before answering, I will assume you knew Isabella’s child survived.”
Silvio slowly sat.
May you like
Damiano’s gaze became colder.
“And I will assume you helped make the world believe she died.”
