THE MAID’S TODDLER SAVED A DYING MAFIA BOSS WITH HER LAST EPIPEN — THEN HIS OWN BLOOD SAID THE ONE THING SHE SHOULD NEVER HEAR

The air at Dock 14 was thick with the smell of saltwater, rust, and heavy fog rolling in off the Hudson River.

Huge shipping containers were stacked three stories high, creating a maze of dark corridors near the water's edge.

At eight o'clock sharp, three black Moretti SUVs pulled into the main unloading zone.

Aleandro stepped out of the lead vehicle, flanked by Marco and six heavily armed enforcers. He wore his dark overcoat, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

Waiting near the edge of the pier, surrounded by his own guards, stood Vincent Genovese—a thin, reedy man in his sixties with white hair, slicked back, and a cold, viper-like sneer.

"Aleandro," Vincent greeted, his voice raspy like dry leaves. "You came."

"Let's make this brief, Vincent," Aleandro said, stopping ten paces away. "You backed my traitorous brother. You supplied him with poison. In any other decade, that would mean a full-scale war between our families."

"Julian was an idiot," Vincent spat dismissively. "He promised me your shipping routes in exchange for a little vial of medicine. I was simply taking advantage of a weak link in your chain."

"The weak link has been removed," Aleandro stated coldly. "Now state your business."

Vincent chuckled, a dark, sinister sound. "I didn't call you here to negotiate trade routes, Aleandro."

Aleandro’s eyes narrowed slightly. He felt a sudden, instinctual prickle of danger at the back of his neck.

"You see," Vincent continued, taking a step back toward his car. "You've grown soft. The whole city knows it. The great Don Moretti brought a maid and her little half-breed kid into his master suite. You're distracted."

Before Aleandro could speak, Marco’s satellite phone buzzed furiously in his pocket.

Marco answered it, listened for two seconds, and his face went deathly pale.

"Don Aleandro!" Marco yelled, pulling his gun. "It's a trap! A hit squad just breached the west perimeter gate at the mansion!"

Aleandro’s blood turned to liquid ice.

"Sophia... Emma..." he growled.

Vincent Genovese sneered, stepping behind his armed men. "While you're here chatting with me, my boys are taking care of your little house guests. You destroyed my business with Julian... so I'm taking everything you love."

"KILL THEM ALL!" Aleandro roared.

Chaos erupted on the dock.

Gunfire shattered the foggy night air. Muzzle flashes illuminated the shipping containers as Aleandro’s men opened fire on the Genovese guards.

Aleandro didn't take cover. He drew his custom silver semi-automatic pistol, stepping forward with lethal, terrifying precision. He fired three shots, taking down two Genovese enforcers instantly, moving like a demon unleashed.

Vincent tried to scramble into his armored car, but Aleandro closed the distance in seconds. He grabbed Vincent by his neck, yanked him out of the vehicle, and slammed him face-first onto the wet concrete pier.

"Where are they?!" Aleandro roared, pressing the hot barrel of his gun against Vincent’s temple.

"They're... they're already inside the house..." Vincent gasped, bleeding from his mouth. "You're too late, Moretti! You can't save them!"

Aleandro pulled the trigger without hesitation.