Chapter 1 - The Request
My hands trembled uncontrollably before I even reached across the pristine white tablecloth.
I had never held a ruthless mafia boss’s child before.
But the desperate, tear-filled expression in little Leo’s eyes left me absolutely no choice.
I slowly slipped my arms under the baby and lifted his warm body against my chest.
Instantly, the frantic screaming stopped.
Leo buried his tear-stained face deep into the crook of my neck and let out a long, shuddering sigh.
His tiny fingers gripped the rough fabric of my cheap uniform like it was the only safe thing in the entire world.
Luca Moretti leaned back in his chair and watched me with a gaze so intense it felt like a physical touch.
“He hasn’t slept for more than twenty minutes at a time in two days,” Luca said quietly.
“He seems perfectly fine now,” I whispered back, terrified to break the fragile spell.
The silence in the elegant restaurant was completely deafening.
Every single customer and staff member was watching the nobody waitress holding the untouchable billionaire’s heir.
I could feel my manager Greg glaring daggers at me from his spot near the host stand.
I swayed gently from side to side, feeling the baby's breathing slow down and even out.
Within sixty seconds, the child was deeply and peacefully asleep in my arms.
“I really should get back to my tables,” I said softly, attempting to hand the boy back to his father.
Leo immediately whimpered in his sleep and tightened his small fists into my apron.
Luca raised a large, scarred hand, instantly stopping my movement.
“Ten thousand dollars,” Luca stated with absolutely zero emotion in his voice.
I blinked at him in total confusion.
“Excuse me?” I asked, hoping my panicked brain had simply misheard him.
“Come with us to my estate for the night, just to let him sleep, and I will wire ten thousand dollars into your account,” he explained smoothly.
I took a slow step back, suddenly realizing exactly how dangerous this situation had become.
“I absolutely cannot do that,” I stammered, feeling raw panic rise in my chest.
I placed the baby gently back into his father's arms, ignoring the sudden cries that immediately erupted again.
I turned around to walk away from Table Twelve and return to my ordinary, boring life.
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Before I could take a third step, the massive glass windows at the front of the restaurant exploded inward.
Shards of glass rained down over the dining tables as the deafening roar of automatic gunfire shattered the quiet night.
