“YOUR SON WAS NEVER MAN ENOUGH FOR ME. HIS FATHER IS.” THE MAFIA BOSS’S MISTRESS SAID IT TO HIS WIFE ACROSS THEIR ANNIVERSARY DINNER TABLE

I stared at the three words on the back of the drawing.

Sophia is lying.

I stood up slowly, pulling little Leo behind my legs to shield him. I looked at the woman in the red dress. Sophia had taken a step backward, her eyes darting toward the front door.

“What does he mean, Sophia?” I asked, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

Dominic hung up his phone, his expression thunderous. He looked at the paper in my hand. Then he looked at his mistress.

“I... I don't know,” Sophia stammered. “Jack is confused. He’s trying to turn you against me!”

“You’re already sleeping with my husband,” I said coldly. “I don't need my son to turn me against you.”

Leo tugged on my skirt. “Grandma? I’m cold.”

I looked down at his sweet face. My grandson. I took off my expensive cashmere cardigan and wrapped it tightly around his small shoulders. “I know, baby. You’re safe now.”

I turned to Dominic. “Take him to the kitchen. Get him something warm to drink.”

Dominic hesitated. The ruthless mafia boss looked completely out of his depth facing a four-year-old boy. But to his credit, he didn't argue. He gently took Leo’s hand.

“Come on, kid,” Dominic muttered.

As soon as they were out of earshot, I turned all my attention to Sophia.

“What are you hiding?” I demanded.

Sophia’s bravado shattered. She sank into one of the foyer chairs, covering her face. “Rose, you have to believe me. I was trying to protect him.”

“Protect who?”

She looked up, her mascara running. “Jack. The story I told you was true... mostly. Jack did catch Dominic and me. He did want to leave with Elena. And Dominic did threaten them.”

“Then what is the lie?”

Sophia reached into her purse again. This time, she didn't pull out a ticket. She pulled out a small, tarnished silver bracelet. It had a broken clasp.

“This belonged to Elena,” Sophia whispered.

My blood ran cold. “How do you have it?”

“Because Elena didn't run away with Jack four years ago,” Sophia said, her voice cracking. “Dominic didn't just threaten her, Rose. He paid the Rossi family to take her. They told Jack she took a payoff and abandoned him. They broke his heart so he would leave without a fight.”

The reversal hit me so hard the room spun.

“But Leo...” I gasped, looking toward the kitchen.

“Elena was pregnant when they took her,” Sophia cried. “She had the baby while in the Rossi family’s custody. They kept Leo as leverage against Dominic. They’ve been blackmailing your husband for four years.”

I stared at her in absolute horror. Dominic hadn't been protecting our family. He had been paying a ransom to our worst enemies, hiding his illegitimate grandchild to keep his own sins a secret.

“And Jack?” I asked, my chest tight.

“Jack finally found out the truth last week,” Sophia said. “He found out Elena died in their custody two years ago. He came back to Chicago to steal his son back. And to kill the man who sold her.”

“He went after the Rossi boss,” I realized, panic rising in my throat.

“No, Rose,” Sophia whispered, tears spilling over her cheeks.

She looked toward the kitchen, where Dominic was standing with Leo.

“Jack went to the Rossi compound tonight to get the ledger proving the transactions. But he isn't trying to kill the Rossi boss.”