Chapter 4
Silvio was still laughing when I returned to the ballroom.
He held court near the fireplace, surrounded by men who mistook polished shoes for power.
His smile widened when he saw me.
“Damiano. The little interruption handled?”
I walked straight to him.
“Who sent you to Lena Carter’s apartment?”
His smile remained.
His eyes changed.
“I don’t know the name.”
I stepped closer.
“Try again.”
The room quieted.
Silvio placed his glass on a tray.
“Careful. This is a charity event.”
“I know.”
I looked around the room.
“Tonight we are raising money for children.”
A few nervous laughs.
I did not smile.
“Especially one child.”
Silvio’s jaw tightened.
“You are making a mistake.”
“I have made many. This may be the first useful one.”
Rafael appeared behind him.
Two of my men blocked the garden doors.
Two more closed the main hall.
The donors whispered.
The dons watched.
Silvio leaned in.
“That girl is not yours.”
“No,” I said. “She is my brother’s.”
That landed.
Hard.
The old men shifted.
Matteo’s name still carried weight.
Silvio whispered, “Then your brother owed debts.”
“Children do not inherit debts.”
“They inherit blood.”
“And men like you spill it because you cannot build anything else.”
His hand twitched.
Rafael caught it before he reached his jacket.
The room erupted.
Women cried out.
Men stood.
My voice cut through all of it.
“Sit down.”
They sat.
Silvio glared.
“You think you can hold me here?”
“No.”
I leaned close.
“I think I can make you afraid to leave.”
Before he answered, Rosa entered with Mia at her side.
My blood went cold.
I had told her to keep Mia away.
But Mia had heard voices.
Children always hear the things adults hide badly.
She looked at Silvio.
Then at me.
“That man came to our door.”
The ballroom went silent.
Silvio smiled.
“She’s four.”
Mia held up the red heart.
“My daddy said bad men smile when they lie.”
Lena rushed in behind her.
“Mia!”
Silvio’s face darkened.
I stepped between him and the child.
“Rafael.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Call Detective Anika Hale.”
The room shifted again.
Police.
In my house.
At my order.
Silvio laughed.
“You would bring law into this?”
I looked down at Mia.
She was holding Lena’s hand now, trembling.
May you like
“Yes,” I said.
“For her, I would burn every old rule.”
