I carried my sick baby into the mansion of New York’s most feared underworld figure, expecting to be fired for bringing her to work.
I carried my sick baby into the mansion of New York’s most feared underworld figure, expecting to be fired for bringing her to work. Instead, Dominic Romano recognized the silver locket around her neck—and minutes later, men were forcing their way through his gates because my daughter was the person they had come to find.
My name is Claire, and nine months ago, my daughter Ava became the only thing in my life that mattered.
That winter morning, her daycare called while I was cleaning offices in Brooklyn.
“Claire, Ava’s temperature is rising. You need to pick her up.”
I dropped everything.
When I reached her, Ava’s cheeks were hot, but she trembled against my chest. At our apartment, the radiator had stopped working again. The refrigerator was nearly empty, and I had enough children’s medicine for one dose.
Then my supervisor called.
“You’re scheduled at the Romano estate tonight.”
“My daughter is sick.”
“Then solve it. Miss this shift and don’t come back.”
He hung up.
Everyone in New York seemed to know Dominic Romano’s reputation. Powerful people lowered their voices when they mentioned him.
But without my paycheck, Ava and I could lose our apartment.
So I wrapped her in blankets and took her with me.
The Romano mansion stood behind enormous iron gates guarded by serious-looking security officers. Inside, a housekeeper stared at Ava.
“You brought a baby here?”
“I didn’t have anyone else.”
Footsteps sounded from the staircase.
Dominic Romano appeared in a charcoal suit, his expression instantly hardening.
“Who authorized this?”
I stepped forward before anyone else could answer.
“Nobody. It was my decision. Please don’t blame anyone else.”
He approached us.
I expected anger.
Instead, Dominic touched Ava’s forehead.
“She’s burning up.”
Then his voice sharpened.
“Call Dr. Bennett.”
He looked directly at me.
“Who ordered you here with a sick child?”
I reluctantly gave him my supervisor’s name.
Dominic made one phone call.
“He doesn’t work for me anymore.”
Twenty minutes later, a private physician was examining Ava in one of the guest rooms.
I stood beside her, trying to understand how the man I’d feared had become the first person all day to treat my daughter like she mattered.
Then Ava shifted.
Her blanket slipped.
A silver locket slid from beneath her sweater.
Dominic saw it.
Every trace of authority vanished from his face.
He crossed the room and carefully lifted the pendant, staring at the strange symbol engraved on its back.
“Where did you get this?”
“My mother gave it to me.”
His eyes snapped toward mine.
“What was her name?”
“Elena Marino.”
Dominic released the necklace as if it carried a memory he couldn’t bear touching.
“No.”
“What?”
“Elena Marino disappeared nine years ago.”
My pulse quickened.
“She was my mother.”
Dominic stared at Ava, then back at me.
His voice became almost inaudible.
“What happened to Elena was connected to me.”
Before I could demand an explanation, a violent crash echoed from outside.
The windows rattled.
Security personnel began shouting in the hallway.
Dominic immediately moved between us and the door.
A guard rushed inside.
“Sir, vehicles breached the outer gate.”
Dominic’s expression changed.
“Get Claire and the baby downstairs. Now.”
“What’s happening?” I demanded.
He looked at Ava’s silver locket again.
Then another crash sounded beyond the windows.
Dominic’s face went pale.
“They’re not here because of me.”
His eyes settled on my daughter.
“They came because they know who she is.”
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