"She Put Something in Your Cake!" A Homeless Girl Warned the Mafia Boss About His Cake—Seconds Later His Fiancée Collapsed, and One Detail on the Security Footage Revealed Who Had Planned the Funeral

By sunrise, the penthouse had been transformed from a luxurious home into an impenetrable fortress. I stood in the kitchen, brewing a large pot of dark roast coffee, watching as Marco and his men reinforced the elevator doors and installed new biometric scanners.

Emma wandered into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She was still wearing her pajamas, clutching her drawing pad. She looked at the strange men in dark suits moving through our living room with mild curiosity, rather than fear. She had grown up in this world, and unfortunately, she knew the drill.

"Are we having a stay-at-home day?" Emma asked, pulling herself up onto a tall barstool at the kitchen island.

"Yes, sweetheart," I said, pouring her a glass of orange juice and offering a reassuring smile. "Your father has some very important business to handle today, so we're going to stay here and have a movie marathon."

"Can Barnaby watch too?" she asked, referencing her imaginary dog.

"Of course Barnaby can watch," Alessandro said, striding into the kitchen. He had changed into a dark turtleneck and slacks, looking every bit the ruthless leader he was forced to be. He kissed my cheek, took a mug of black coffee from my hands, and ruffled Emma's hair.

"Marco says the perimeter is locked," Alessandro told me in a low voice, leaning close. "No one gets on this floor without my direct authorization. I have to go to the warehouse district. I need to meet with the other family heads and see if Lorenzo has reached out to them."

"Is it safe for you to leave?" I asked, anxiety twisting sharply in my stomach.

"I am the predator, not the prey," Alessandro said, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light. "If Lorenzo wants a war, I will oblige him. Keep the doors locked. Do not trust anyone who isn't Marco."