The small pink chalk flower on the polished dark stone floor of the foyer remained untouched for three days.

While love bloomed inside the Bedford estate, the dark underbelly of the New York syndicate was preparing for one final, desperate rebellion.

Don Carmine O’Malley—the aging, ruthless head of the O'Malley crime family—was furious.

The public humiliation of his enforcers at the gates of Bedford, combined with Gabriel’s aggressive seizure of the Brooklyn shipping lanes, had severely weakened O'Malley's standing among the five families. Rumors were circulating that O'Malley was growing old and soft.

In a dark backroom of a steakhouse in Queens, Carmine O’Malley sat across from a man who had everything to lose: Ryan Cole.

Ryan looked terrible. He had spent his debt-forgiveness money on cheap liquor, his face was gaunt, and his eyes burned with an insane, bitter jealousy. He had seen the news reports of Claire running the Romano Health Trust, dressed in designer clothes, living in a mansion with his daughter.

"Romano took everything from me," Ryan spat, slamming his glass on the table. "He stole my kid! He stole Claire! He humiliated me!"

Carmine O'Malley puffed slowly on a thick cigar, his dark eyes narrowing. "Gabriel Romano is untouchable in Westchester. His estate is a fortress. But he has a weakness now."

Ryan leaned in. "What weakness?"

"The girl," O'Malley whispered coldly. "And the mother. Tomorrow morning, Claire Bennett is attending the public inauguration of the new children’s wing at St. Jude’s Hospital in Manhattan. Romano’s security will be focused on the perimeter, but inside the hospital lobby... it’s open to the public."

O'Malley reached beneath the table and slid a heavy black leather bag toward Ryan.

"You take three of my best men," O'Malley instructed, his voice dropping into a sinister hiss. "You snatch the kid from the hospital lobby during the press conference. We bring her to the docks. Romano will hand over every shipping permit in New York to get that girl back."