My three-year-old daughter tugged on the trousers of one of New York’s most feared mafia bosses and asked him for a stuffed dog before tomorrow. Julian Hail almost smiled until Ivy whispered, “It’s not for me. It’s for a boy who doesn’t have anybody.” Then she told him where that six-year-old boy lived, and the man who frightened half the city suddenly went completely still.

The revelation that Silas was still alive completely shattered Julian's composure.

Silas laughed through the encrypted phone, his voice dripping with pure malice.

He explained that he had faked his own death to escape federal indictments a decade ago.

He had spent the last ten years secretly building a shadow empire from the ground up.

Silas revealed that he wanted Toby dead because the boy was the true, legitimate heir to the main Hail family trust fund.

If Toby lived to see his eighteenth birthday, Silas would lose billions of dollars in offshore accounts.

Julian promised his brother that he would tear the city apart to find him.

Silas mockingly told Julian to come find him at the Mayor's charity ball tonight.

He hung up the phone, leaving a dial tone echoing in the loud boxcar.

Julian looked at me and stated that the Mayor was heavily involved in Silas's corrupt network.

We needed to infiltrate the exclusive charity ball to hack the Mayor's private servers.

I volunteered to go in as a civilian distraction since Silas's men did not know my face.

Julian absolutely refused to put me in danger, but I insisted it was the only logical way.

We abandoned the cargo train in Brooklyn and secured a new, uncompromised safehouse.

Julian called in a trusted fixer who provided me with a stunning evening gown and a highly advanced cloning device.

I looked at myself in the mirror, barely recognizing the elegant woman staring back at me.

Julian walked up behind me, gently placing a hidden earpiece into my right ear.

He told me to say a specific code word if things went wrong, and he would tear the building down.

I arrived at the luxurious Manhattan ballroom, blending seamlessly with the wealthy elite.

I managed to slip a spilled drink onto the Mayor's suit, forcing him to step into a private alcove.

As I pretended to help him dry his jacket, I bumped my clutch against his encrypted phone.

The cloning device buzzed twice, signaling a successful data transfer.

I smiled and turned to walk away, completely relieved that the mission was successful.

Suddenly, a heavy, scarred hand clamped down viciously onto my bare wrist.

When my newborn 'passed away,' my mother-in-law leaned in and said

My Husband Left Me Alone in My Car While I Was in Labor

“You’re Dead When We Get Home,” He Snapped

I turned around to see Marcus standing directly behind the Mayor, wearing a pristine tuxedo.

Marcus leaned in close to my ear and whispered that Julian was already dead.

Chapter 5 - The Mayor's Ball