Make my daughter speak again, and I’ll give you everything,” the billionaire Mafia Boss begged. But when my four-year-old pointed at the swan music box and whispered, “He doesn’t want her to open it,” the man Vincent trusted most suddenly went pale.

The enforcer smiled a cold, lifeless smile.

"Hand over the drive, and I might let the kid live," he lied.

I knew the moment I gave it to him, we were both dead.

I looked at the water inside the stone fountain and made a split-second decision.

I threw the silver USB drive directly into the deep, murky water.

The enforcer instinctively turned his head and lunged for it.

I didn't wait to see if he caught it.

I grabbed the heavy bronze water spigot sitting loose on the stone edge.

With every ounce of strength I had, I swung it directly into the side of his knee.

He screamed, his leg snapping as he collapsed onto the wet gravel.

I picked up Ellie and ran toward the underground staff garage.

My lungs burned, but the adrenaline pushed me faster than I had ever run in my life.

I reached my beat-up Honda Civic and strapped Ellie into her car seat with shaking hands.

I jammed the key into the ignition, praying the old engine would start.

It roared to life just as the garage doors began to close on lockdown.

I slammed the gas pedal to the floor, the tires squealing on the concrete.

The car smashed through the lowering wooden gate, splintering it into a thousand pieces.

We were out on the open road, speeding toward the highway.

I checked my rearview mirror, letting out a massive breath of relief.

Nobody was following us.

Ellie reached into the pocket of her little denim jacket and pulled out her hand.

"Mommy, I saved it," she whispered.

She opened her tiny palm to reveal the real silver USB drive.

I had thrown a silver wrapper from her candy in the fountain, and the hitman had fallen for it.

I drove toward a public library three towns over, knowing I needed to see what was on the drive.

I left Ellie playing in the children's section and plugged the USB into a public computer.

A single video file popped up on the screen.

It was security footage from the Moretti estate garage on the night Sofia died.

The video clearly showed Dominic cutting the brake lines of Sofia's car.

But he wasn't alone in the shadows.

Another man stepped into the frame and handed Dominic an envelope of cash.

I gasped loudly, covering my mouth as I recognized the second man's face.

The Billionaire Put On a Waiter’s Apron to Test His Fiancée, but the Wom...

My father bet twenty dollars that I would walk through his front door al...

My Husband Slapped Me Out of His House for His Mistress, Then the Most F...

It was Lorenzo Moretti, Vincent's older brother.

Before I could unplug the drive, a cold hand clamped down on my shoulder.

Chapter 2 - The Getaway Car