Chapter 1 - The Tip
Maya pushed through the swinging metal doors into the humid chaos of the kitchen.
Her hands were trembling so violently that she had to grip the edge of the stainless steel counter to stay standing.
She had just insulted the most dangerous man in the entire city.
Henry burst through the doors a moment later with his face completely drained of color.
He marched directly toward her and grabbed her tightly by the upper arm.
He told her she was completely insane and that she had probably just gotten them all killed.
Maya pulled her arm away and stared at the floor.
She waited for the sound of gunshots or the heavy footsteps of Dominic Russo coming to drag her into the alley.
Instead, the scarred enforcer walked into the kitchen carrying a small leather billfold.
The entire kitchen staff froze in absolute terror.
The enforcer ignored everyone and walked straight up to Maya.
He tossed the billfold onto the counter directly in front of her.
He said his boss appreciated a woman who knew her own worth.
Then he turned around and walked out of the restaurant without another word.
Henry rushed forward and snatched the billfold open.
Inside was a stack of crisp one hundred dollar bills that amounted to exactly five thousand dollars.
There was also a white napkin folded neatly in half.
Maya reached out and took the napkin from Henry's shaking hands.
Written in dark ink was a single sentence in the heavy Neapolitan dialect.
It told her to lock her doors tonight.
Maya stripped off her apron and walked out the back exit into the freezing rain.
She clutched the money to her chest because it was enough to pay for her sister's medication for the next six months.
The walk back to her cramped apartment in the slums felt longer than usual.
She kept looking over her shoulder because the shadows seemed to be moving with her.
She finally reached her building and practically sprinted up the three flights of rotting wooden stairs.
She unlocked her door and called out for her younger sister.
The apartment was completely silent.
Maya dropped the money on the floor and ran into the tiny bedroom.
Sophie's bed was completely empty.
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The medical monitors attached to the wall had been violently ripped from their sockets.
A massive pool of fresh blood stained the center of the cheap rug.
