Nobody Could Approach the Unconscious Mafia Boss Because of His Guard Dog—Then My Five-Year-Old Daughter Calmed Him Instantly.

The sudden darkness inside Moretti Manor was broken only by the crimson glow of emergency backup lanterns clicking on along the baseboards.

Titan stood up instantly, stepping in front of Sophia and Elena, a deep, menacing rumble rising in his throat as the red light reflected off his spiked collar.

Dante Russo pulled his heavy tactical sidearm from his coat. "The outer perimeter fence was cut! We have a coordinated breach at the south gate!"

Adrian didn't panic. His tall, broad frame stood immovable in the center of the room. He reached into his desk drawer, pulling out a heavy sidearm, and racked the slide with a crisp, terrifying click.

"Dante," Adrian commanded flatly. "Take four men and secure the central security hub. I want the backup generators online in two minutes."

"Boss, you're still weak from the poison!" Dante urged, his face pale under the red light. "Let me stay with you!"

"I don't need a bodyguard, Dante," Adrian growled softly. "I need my perimeter clear. Move!"

Dante hesitated for a fraction of a second, then bowed his head and sprinted out of the study with three bodyguards trailing behind him.

Adrian turned to Elena and Sophia. He swept Sophia up into his left arm, holding her securely against his broad chest while keeping his tactical sidearm raised in his right. Sophia held her teddy bear tightly against his dark suit, her pink bows resting against his lapel.

"Follow me," Adrian ordered Elena.

He led them toward the heavy mahogany bookshelf along the far wall. Adrian pressed a hidden pressure latch built into the carved wood. With a soft mechanical hiss, the heavy bookshelf swung forward, revealing a dark stone staircase descending into the subterranean foundations of the mansion.

Titan trotted inside first, his nose low to the stone steps.

Adrian ushered Elena inside, closing the heavy wooden panel behind them just as the sharp sound of suppressed automatic gunfire echoed from the corridor outside the study.

As they descended the cool, damp stone steps forty feet beneath the mansion, Sophia looked at Adrian with her bright, curious brown eyes.

"Mr. Adrian?" Sophia asked in her sweet, innocent voice.

"Yes, little one?" Adrian replied, his gravelly voice softer than anyone in the syndicate had ever heard it.

"The doctor man who gave you the bitter water..." Sophia murmured, pointing her small finger back up the stairs. "...he gave a shiny silver tube to the man in the dark suit before the lights went out."

Adrian froze on the stone stairwell. His blue-gray eyes narrowed into razor slits.

"Which man in the dark suit, Sophia?" Adrian asked quietly.