Chapter 1 - THE MARK BENEATH THE BLUE WOOL
For two years after losing her husband, Elena Bennett survived by cleaning the homes of Milan’s wealthiest families while raising her three-year-old daughter, Emma, alone.
Her newest position brought her into Villa Moretti, the marble fortress belonging to Alessandro Moretti—the most feared mafia boss in northern Italy.
During a gathering attended by twelve powerful crime families, Alessandro’s fiancée, Vivian Romano, accused Elena of spilling juice on an expensive Persian rug. In front of servants, guards, and guests, Vivian slapped Elena across the face and reminded her that she was “only a housekeeper.”
But before Elena could respond, little Emma ran into the corridor.
Barefoot and clutching her favorite blue wool rabbit, the three-year-old planted herself between her mother and Vivian.
She told Vivian not to make her mommy cry.
When Vivian raised her hand again, Alessandro Moretti stopped her with a single word.
The entire villa fell silent.
Alessandro ordered his fiancée to apologize, explaining that anyone employed beneath his roof was under his protection. Humiliated before twelve families, Vivian reluctantly obeyed.
Then Alessandro knelt in front of Emma.
The child looked at the feared mafia king and innocently told him that “Mr. Bunny” thought he looked sad.
For a moment, Alessandro’s cold expression softened.
Then his fingers brushed the rabbit’s folded ear.
He froze.
Hidden beneath the blue wool was a tiny black symbol stitched into the fabric—a broken crown crossed by three narrow lines.
Alessandro recognized it immediately.
It was a mark connected to a secret network he had been hunting for years.
A network responsible for stolen shipments.
Dead informants.
Missing money.
And the murder of his younger brother.
Alessandro slowly rose and asked Elena where Emma had gotten the rabbit.
Elena answered with the truth.
Her late husband had given it to their daughter shortly before his death.
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And as every armed man in Villa Moretti reached toward his weapon, Elena realized something terrifying.
Her husband’s death might never have been an accident.
