Chapter 2 – THE LOCKET THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

I touched the cold silver of the locket.

“My grandmother gave it to me,” I whispered. “Before she passed away.”

Luca’s jaw tightened. He looked at Andrew, who was now sweating through his expensive suit.

“Your grandmother’s maiden name was Romano,” Luca said. It wasn’t a question.

I stared at him, stunned. “How did you know that?”

“Because that locket bears the Romano family crest,” Teresa Moretti spoke up from the head of the table. Her voice was frail but firm. “A crest that hasn’t been seen in this city for forty years.”

My mind raced.

My grandmother was a sweet woman who baked bread and knitted sweaters. She wasn’t part of this world.

“Andrew,” Luca said, turning his lethal gaze back to my ex-husband. “Did you think the Rossis wanted your daughter because they care about your custody battle?”

Andrew backed up another step, bumping into a chair. “They just said they wanted the girl! They said if I brought them Emily’s daughter, my two million dollar gambling debt would be wiped clean.”

I felt sick.

He was going to trade our daughter to a Chicago crime syndicate to pay off his poker debts.

“They want her because of her bloodline,” Luca said softly. “The Romanos controlled the docks before my father took over. The Rossis believe if they have the last living Romano heir—your daughter—they can stake a claim on my territory.”

I wrapped my arms tighter around Sophie.

“Mommy, I want to go upstairs,” Sophie whimpered.

“You’re not going anywhere, Emily,” Andrew snapped, sudden desperation making him reckless. He lunged forward, reaching for Sophie’s arm again.

He never made it.

Luca moved with terrifying speed. He grabbed Andrew by the collar of his suit, slammed him onto the polished dining table, and pinned him there. Crystal glasses shattered. Wine spilled like blood across the white tablecloth.

“You brought a threat into my home,” Luca snarled, the polished gentleman completely vanishing, replaced by the ruthless boss of the Moretti family.

“Please!” Andrew begged, his perfect confidence shattered. “I didn’t know! I just wanted the debt gone!”

I covered Sophie’s eyes, trembling.

“Luca, stop,” Teresa said gently.

Luca breathed heavily, his knuckles white as he held Andrew down. He slowly released his grip, smoothing his jacket.

“Take him to the basement,” Luca ordered his men.

Two large guards stepped out of the shadows and dragged a sobbing Andrew out of the room.

I stood there, trembling, holding my daughter, my mind reeling from the revelation about my own family.

Luca turned to me. His eyes softened immediately.

“You’re safe here, Emily,” he said.

But before I could thank him, Sophie reached into her other pocket.

“Mr. Moretti?” she whispered, pulling out a heavy, gold pocket watch. “Daddy told me to steal this from your desk when I went to the bathroom.”

Luca stared at the watch.

It was his late father’s timepiece. The one kept in a locked safe.

“Sophie,” Luca whispered, “how did your father know the combination to my safe?”