THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE TRIED TO DESTROY HIS LOYAL DRIVER, BUT SHE DIDN’T EXPECT THE HOUSEKEEPER TO STAND IN HER WAY

"Drive," the man ordered, pressing the cold muzzle of the gun against my side. "Take the west gate."

My mind raced. The west gate led entirely off the property, straight into Bellini territory. If he got us out of the estate, Luca would surrender to save his son. The Bellinis would win. They would kill all of us.

I looked in the rearview mirror. Leo was wide awake, his eyes terrified, clutching his seatbelt.

"Okay," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. "Okay, I'm driving."

I eased the heavy SUV out of the garage. The headlights cut through the thick fog rolling off the estate lawns.

"Where is the paper?" the driver asked.

"What paper?"

He jabbed the gun harder into my ribs, making me wince. "Don't play stupid. Vanessa knows Arthur Vance hid the armory manifest in that watch. Hand it over."

"Luca has it," I lied. "He took it with him to the docks."

The driver laughed harshly. "Nice try. Luca wouldn't take the only piece of leverage he has into a shootout. It's in the house, or it's on you."

We were approaching the edge of the manicured lawn. Beyond it lay the dense, unlit woods that bordered the estate. I knew these woods. During my first week, when I was scrubbing the patio, Ray had pointed out the old logging road that cut through the trees, telling me how the mud there was thick enough to swallow a tire whole.

I needed a distraction. I needed a weapon.

My right hand slipped into my coat pocket. My fingers wrapped around the cold, heavy metal of my father’s silver pocket watch.

"You want the watch?" I asked, my voice shaking. "I have it."

"Pull it out. Slowly," he commanded, his eyes darting between me and the road.

I pulled my hand out of my pocket, keeping my fist closed. "It's right here."

He leaned closer, his greed overpowering his caution. He glanced down at my hand for one split second.

I didn't open my hand. I slammed on the brakes with all my strength.

The SUV violently jerked to a halt. The driver, not wearing a seatbelt, flew forward, his head smashing into the dashboard. The gun slipped from his grip, falling onto the floorboard.

Before he could recover, I swung my right arm with everything I had. The heavy silver watch, clutched in my fist like brass knuckles, collided with his temple.

He groaned and slumped against the door.

I didn't wait to see if he was unconscious. I threw the car into park, unbuckled my belt, and reached into the back seat.

"Leo, come on!" I unlatched his belt and pulled him into my arms.

I threw open my door and plunged into the freezing, foggy night. I didn't run toward the main road. I ran straight into the dense, muddy woods.

Branches whipped my face. Mud sucked at my shoes. I held Leo tight against my chest, feeling his small heart racing against mine. We pushed deeper into the trees, the darkness swallowing us whole.

After ten minutes of brutal running, my lungs burned. I crouched behind a massive, fallen oak tree, pulling Leo down beside me into the damp earth.

"Are we playing hide and seek?" Leo whispered, his voice trembling.

"Yes, baby," I breathed, kissing the top of his head. "We're hiding."

We sat in the suffocating silence of the woods. The fog was so thick I could barely see ten feet in front of me.

Then, I heard it.

The snapping of twigs. The heavy squelch of boots in the mud. Someone was tracking us.

I held my breath, pulling Leo tighter. The footsteps grew closer. A flashlight beam cut through the fog, sweeping over the trees just inches above our heads.

The footsteps stopped right on the other side of the fallen tree.

"I know you're here, Nora," a deep voice called out softly.