The housekeeper's child crawled under my desk—and the necklace the child was wearing revealed the truth about my brother's killer.

For the next three days, Hannah’s life transformed into a surreal, terrifying dream. Dominic quietly arranged for her to be moved from the cramped servant quarters into a luxurious guest suite in the heavily guarded east wing of the manor. To the rest of the staff and the syndicates, Dominic simply announced that he required a dedicated, live-in nanny for a child he had adopted from a distant relative.

Hannah traded her gray maid uniform for elegant, understated clothes provided by the estate. She wore a soft cream sweater and dark trousers, her brown hair falling freely over her shoulders. But despite the luxury, she felt like a bird trapped in a gilded cage.

Dominic visited the suite every evening. The legendary, intimidating Mafia Boss would leave his weapons at the door, shrug off his tailored suit jacket, and sit on the plush rug to play with Grace. Hannah watched him in quiet awe. The man who ordered the destruction of rival empires was incredibly gentle with his niece, building small block towers and smiling a rare, breathtaking smile when Grace laughed and knocked them down.

On the fourth evening, the quiet peace of the suite was shattered.

Hannah was in the adjoining bathroom drawing a bath for Grace when she heard the suite door open. She assumed it was Dominic and walked out, wiping her hands on a towel.

It was not Dominic.

Silas stood in the center of the living room. He was a tall, imposing man in his early forties, wearing a sharp black suit. His eyes were cold, sweeping over the luxurious room before finally landing on Hannah.

“You’ve moved up in the world very quickly, Hannah,” Silas said, his voice smooth and dangerously polite.

Hannah’s heart hammered against her ribs. She forced herself to remain calm, remembering Dominic’s instructions to play the part of a grateful employee. “Mr. Caruso has been very generous. The baby needed a quiet place to sleep.”

Silas took a slow step closer. He looked at Grace, who was playing on the rug in her pale-orange dress. The underboss tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as he studied the baby’s striking gray eyes.

“She doesn't look like you,” Silas murmured. “She has very specific eyes. Eyes I haven't seen in over a year.”

Hannah’s breath caught in her throat. She instinctively stepped in front of Grace, shielding the baby with her legs. “She looks like her father. He passed away.”

“Did he?” Silas asked softly, taking another step toward her. The sinister threat in his posture was undeniable.

Suddenly, the heavy door of the suite swung open. Dominic stepped into the room. His presence was immediately overwhelming, the air turning thick and heavy with his arrival. He looked at Silas, his jaw tightening slightly, though his handsome face remained a mask of frightening calm.

“Is there a problem here, Silas?” Dominic asked, his voice low and vibrating with warning.

Silas turned smoothly, offering a respectful nod to the boss. “No problem at all, Dominic. I was simply welcoming our new nanny to the east wing. I was just remarking on how unique the child’s eyes are.”

Dominic walked into the room, stopping directly between Silas and Hannah. He didn't look at his underboss. He looked at Hannah, checking her for any sign of harm, his dark eyes filled with a fierce, quiet protectiveness.

“The child is under my care, Silas,” Dominic stated coldly. “Her suite is off-limits to everyone. Including you.”

Silas bowed his head, masking his suspicion. “Understood, Boss.”