Ten days. That was all the doctor believed my six-year-old twins had left, and for the first time in my life, all the money, guns, fear, and power I had built as one of Chicago’s most feared mafia bosses meant absolutely nothing. By three that afternoon, while death waited inside my mansion, a penniless woman stood outside my gates refusing to leave, and I had no idea she was about to change everything.

The heavy steel gates of my estate slowly groaned open under the dark Chicago sky.

Prescott led the mysterious woman through the pouring rain and straight into my private office.

She was shivering violently, wearing a torn gray coat and boots that were falling apart at the seams.

I stared at her from behind my massive mahogany desk, analyzing every single movement she made.

Despite her penniless appearance, she stood perfectly straight with the unmistakable posture of a trained soldier.

I asked her to tell me her name and explain exactly how she knew about my children.

She looked me dead in the eye and said her name was Elara.

She revealed that she was Genevieve's estranged younger half-sister, a secret my wife had kept hidden from everyone.

My hand immediately reached for the loaded pistol resting silently inside my desk drawer.

I demanded to know why she had waited until my wife was dead to finally show her face.

Elara ignored my anger and stated that she possessed the exact same rare genetic mutation as Genevieve.

She told me she was a perfect bone marrow match for both Jonah and Blythe.

All the breath completely left my lungs as the weight of her words settled over me.

I slowly pulled my hand away from the weapon and asked her what she wanted in return.

I offered her millions of dollars, luxury homes, and anything else money could possibly buy.

She shook her head and said she did not care about my dirty money.

Elara explained that the ruthless Volkov syndicate was actively hunting her across the entire country.

She promised to give my children her bone marrow if I used my mafia army to protect her.

I did not hesitate for a single second before agreeing to her dangerous terms.

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 stood up to call Dr. Yates, feeling a sudden surge of impossible hope for my dying twins.

Before I could even pick up the telephone, a deafening explosion violently rocked the foundation of my mansion.

Chapter 1 - The Stranger