Chapter 4 – THE BITE

Bruno didn’t bite her.

He didn’t have to. The sheer weight of the seventy-pound retriever slamming against Vanessa’s legs was enough to knock her off balance.

She shrieked, her designer heels slipping on the icy driveway. As she fell backward, her grip on Leo’s wrist broke.

The boy stumbled forward.

I caught him instantly, pulling his freezing, trembling body into my arms. He buried his face in my neck, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Get this beast off me!” Vanessa screamed from the ground.

Bruno stood over her, barking furiously. He didn’t touch her with his teeth, but his message was clear: Do not move.

Matteo didn’t call the dog off.

Instead, he walked over to Vanessa. He stood above her, his shadow blocking out the security lights.

“You wanted a dog bite, Vanessa?” Matteo asked coldly. “Keep screaming and you might get one.”

She snapped her mouth shut, her eyes wide with fear.

Matteo turned to the security chief, who was standing frozen by the doors. “Marcus. Escort Miss Ricci off my property. If she ever sets foot near my gates again, you have my permission to handle it your way.”

“Yes, boss.”

Vanessa scrambled to her feet, her dress ruined, her dignity shattered. “You can’t do this, Matteo! My father has legal custody! He’ll call the police! He’ll have you arrested for kidnapping!”

Matteo pulled out his phone. He dialed a number, put it on speaker, and held it up.

Three rings. Then a man’s terrified voice answered.

“Matteo? Please, listen to me—”

“Hello, Victor,” Matteo said smoothly to Vanessa’s father. “I’m looking at your daughter. And I’m looking at my nephew.”

“Matteo, I didn’t know she was going to bring him there tonight! I swear to God—”

“Victor, shut up.”

The line went dead quiet.

“You forged custody papers for a Romano,” Matteo said, his voice dropping to a terrifying whisper. “You held my blood hostage. I’m keeping the boy.”

“But the judge—”

“The judge works for me,” Matteo lied flawlessly, though judging by Victor’s gasp, he believed it. “Tomorrow morning, you will legally transfer guardianship to me. If you don’t, my men will visit your businesses. All of them. At the same time.”

Matteo hung up before Victor could answer.

He looked at Vanessa. “Your father just sold you out. Get off my property.”

Vanessa opened her mouth, but Marcus the security chief stepped forward. She glared at me, her eyes filled with toxic hatred, before turning and marching down the driveway into the darkness.

Silence fell over the estate.

I was sitting on the ground, rocking Leo back and forth.

Matteo knelt beside us. His large, powerful hands were trembling slightly.

“Hey, Leo,” he said softly.

Leo peeked out from my shoulder.

Matteo reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver pocket watch. He popped it open. Inside was a picture of him and his brother, Luca.

“I’m your Uncle Matteo,” he said. “I’ve been looking for you for a very long time.”

Leo looked at the watch, then at Matteo’s face.

“Are you gonna send me back to the dark room?” the boy whispered.

Matteo’s face broke. A single tear slipped down the mafia boss’s cheek.

“No, piccolo,” Matteo vowed, his voice thick with emotion. “You are never going to a dark room again. You’re home.”

I smiled through my tears, feeling a warmth I hadn’t felt in years.

But as I stood up, helping Leo to his feet, a heavy piece of paper fluttered out of Leo’s oversized jacket and landed on the snow.

Matteo picked it up. It was a folded train ticket.

He opened it, and all the warmth drained from his face.

“Emily,” Matteo said sharply.

“What is it?”

He held up the ticket. “This wasn’t bought by Vanessa’s father. It was bought by Mrs. Collins.”

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