Everyone Feared the Mafia Boss’s Guard Dog—Then My Little Girl Did the Impossible.

Within thirty minutes, the Moretti estate was placed on total lockdown. The grand wrought-iron gates were sealed, heavy steel shutters were lowered over the lower perimeter, and armed guards in black suits patrolled every corridor.

In the sunlit living room, Adrian sat at his massive dark wood coffee table, sipping black espresso to clear his system. Dr. Harrison, the family's private physician, finished drawing a sample of Adrian's blood to analyze the synthetic sedative that had knocked him out.

"It was a concentrated paralyzing agent, Mr. Moretti," the doctor reported quietly. "Designed to look like a sudden heart attack. Whoever put it in your glass had direct access to your private study."

Adrian set his porcelain cup down with a soft, deliberate click. His icy gaze shifted toward the center of the room.

Sophia was sitting cross-legged on a plush oriental rug, happily drawing pictures with a box of crayons. Sitting right beside her, lying down like a massive furry bodyguard, was Titan. The dog’s heavy head rested on his paws, his eyes tracking every movement of the guards in the room, but his body completely relaxed near the child.

Elena stood nearby, her maid uniform rumpled, her face pale as she watched her daughter with a mixture of relief and intense anxiety.

"Dante," Adrian commanded flatly. "Seize the house staff. Every butler, cook, and steward who entered my study today goes to the lower holding cells for questioning."

"Understood, Boss," Dante replied, turning toward the doorway.

"Wait," Elena cried out softly, taking a step forward before shrinking back under Adrian’s intense gaze. "Mr. Moretti... I... I was in the study at eleven o'clock. I wiped down the mahogany desk and the bar cart."

Adrian turned his head slowly, his long dark wavy hair brushing against his shoulders as he leaned back against his chair. "Are you confessing to poisoning my drink, Elena?"

"No! Never!" Elena stammered, tears welling in her eyes. "I swear on my daughter’s life! But... while I was dusting the bookshelf, I saw Marcus—your secondary security chief—standing near the bar cart. He told me to leave the room early."

Dante’s hand instantly dropped to his sidearm. "Marcus vanished from his post ten minutes ago, Boss. He's not answering his radio."

Adrian’s jaw set like iron. He stood up to his full height, his broad frame casting a long shadow across the room. "Find him. Bring him to me alive."

As Dante rushed out to execute the order, Adrian walked over to the rug where Sophia was drawing. He crouched down beside her, his tailored suit trousers tightening over his muscular legs.