Part 2: My fiancée complained about a young mother needing time off to care for her three-month-old baby, completely unaware that the maid she wanted to fire was under the direct personal protection of my underground syndicate.

My stomach dropped into a bottomless pit of ice.

"Leo," I gasped, my maternal instinct screaming louder than any fear for myself. "My mom and Leo are alone in that apartment!"

"Dante, scramble team four," Luca ordered instantly, grabbing his tailored jacket from the back of the chair. "Lock down Elmhurst Street right now. Bring armored transport to the front entrance."

"On it, Boss," Dante said, pulling his radio and barking commands as he sprinted down the hall.

Luca turned to me, his hand resting on the small of my back, guiding me firmly toward the private elevator. "Stay close to me, Hannah. No one touches you or your son. I swear it on my father's grave."

Ten minutes later, we were inside a bulletproof black Maybach, tearing through the rain-slicked streets of the city with two black SUVs flanking our sides. Red and blue hidden strobes flashed through the grille, clearing traffic like a knife through butter.

I sat in the leather seat, clutching my phone, dialing my mother’s number over and over.

*Ring... ring... ring...*

"Come on, Mom, pick up," I whimpered, tears blurring the city lights outside. "Please, pick up..."

"Voicemail," I cried, looking at Luca in sheer panic. "She isn't answering!"

Luca tapped the partition glass. "Faster, Marco. Run every red light."

The driver accelerated, the engine roaring like a beast.

When we turned the corner onto Elmhurst Street, my heart nearly stopped.

The streetlights in front of my rundown brownstone were completely smashed out. Shards of glass littered the asphalt. An unmarked gray van with tinted windows was idling directly outside my building's front door, its rear doors cracked open.

"They're already here," Dante muttered from the front passenger seat, drawing a suppressed automatic pistol from his shoulder holster.

"Hannah, stay down on the floor," Luca commanded, his voice deadly calm.

"My baby is in there!" I screamed, lunging for the door handle.

Luca grabbed my arm, pulling me back with impossible strength, yet careful not to hurt me. "I will bring your baby out. Look at me, Hannah. Look at my eyes."