Chapter 1 - The broken vase
The sun streamed brightly through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the grand estate, bathing the marble entryway in warm, golden light. Domenico Romano stood near the arched doorway, his tall and lean frame casting a imposing shadow across the polished floor. At thirty-nine, the feared New York mafia boss possessed a battle-hardened presence that could silence a room without a word. His long, dark brown hair was slicked back flawlessly, framing an intense gaze, a razor-sharp jawline, and a neatly trimmed short beard. Dressed in a tailored black suit, black dress shirt, and crisp black tie, he adjusted his cuffs, revealing the prominent dark tattoo sprawling down his right forearm toward his wrist. His polished black dress shoes made no sound as he watched his fourteen-month-old niece, Sofia.
Little Sofia was a bright spot in a dark world. She wore a delicate pale pink dress and small white flats, her fair and rosy cheeks glowing as she giggled, taking wobbly steps across the hall. But in a split second, her tiny foot caught the edge of her dress. Sofia stumbled forward, accidentally bumping into a tall decorative display stand.
A heavy, antique porcelain vase wobbled violently at the top before plunging downward. It crashed onto the marble floor with a deafening shatter, exploding into dozens of ceramic fragments. As the dust settled, a sealed, yellowed envelope slid out from beneath the broken base, resting conspicuously among the shards.
Before Domenico could step forward, Camilla Romano rushed into the foyer. Her elegant cream dress swished around her heels, but her face was twisted into a mask of pure malice. Ignoring the shattered antique, her eyes locked onto the yellowed paper. In a flash of blind rage, Camilla delivered a hard, vicious slap across fourteen-month-old Sofia’s face. The force sent the baby stumbling sideways onto the floor, bursting into terrified, heartbroken sobs as she clutched her red cheek.
"You stupid brat!" Camilla roared, her voice echoing cruelty off the high ceilings. "You’ve ruined everything!"
Domenico’s blood ran cold, instantly replaced by volcanic fury. In two long strides, he reached the baby, scooping crying Sofia up and placing her safely behind his legs, shielding her with his massive frame. His brown eyes blazed as he glared down at Camilla.
"Stay away from my niece!" Domenico demanded, his voice exploding with thunderous rage.
Camilla didn't even look at the sobbing child. Her trembling, anxious gaze remained glued to the yellowed envelope sitting on the marble.
Suddenly, Marco Romano burst into the hallway, his dark suit jacket unbuttoned over an open-collar shirt. Seeing the paper on the floor, Marco’s aggressive face pale with panic. He lunged forward, reaching wildly for the envelope. But Domenico was infinitely faster. Crouching low while keeping little Sofia firmly shielded behind his back, Domenico snatched the yellowed envelope from the floor first.
"Give me that damn envelope!" Marco barked, swinging a wild, heavy right hook directly at Domenico’s head.
Domenico barely leaned back, dodging the clumsy punch with ease. Returning the momentum, Domenico delivered a swift, devastating blow directly to Marco’s forehead. The impact sent Marco tumbling backward, crashing hard against the leather sofa before sprawling onto the floor.
While Marco lay dazed beside the sofa, Camilla made her move. Desperate and terrified, she lunged with claws outstretched to snatch the envelope from Domenico’s grip. Domenico snapped his arm back out of her reach and swung his left hand, landing a swift, ringing slap across Camilla’s face. The strike sent her staggering back until she collapsed hard into an armchair.
"DON’T OPEN IT!" Camilla screamed, her face contorted in total terror.
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Ignoring her screech, Domenico ripped open the top of the yellowed envelope. He pulled out the folded, aged document inside and scanned the lines rapidly.
Within seconds, the imposing mafia boss froze. The fierce anger vanished from his expression, replaced by absolute horror. The color drained completely from his rosy skin, leaving him deathly pale. His hands trembled as his eyes devoured the words on the paper. Across the room, Camilla and Marco stared at him in dead, suffocating silence.
