THE PRICE OF THE GUEST LIST

I lunged at her.

I didn't think about the fact that she was a wealthy socialite, or that I was wearing a maid's uniform. I didn't care about my job. All I saw was red. I grabbed Sloane by the collar of her expensive dress and shoved her hard against the dining room wall.

"If you touched him," I screamed, the sound tearing from my throat. "If you went near my son, I will kill you!"

Sloane gasped, her hands clawing at my wrists.

"Mara, stop!" Nicolo was there in an instant. His large hands gripped my shoulders, pulling me back with a strength I couldn't fight. But he didn't throw me aside. He pulled me behind him, positioning his body between me and Sloane like a shield.

"Where is the boy, Sloane?" Nicolo demanded, his voice a low growl.

Sloane smoothed her dress, breathing heavily. She looked at me with pure malice. "He's perfectly fine. For now. But accidents happen in cheap apartment buildings, don't they? Fires break out. Doors get left unlocked."

My vision blurred with tears of pure panic. Leo was with Mrs. Gable, the sweet elderly neighbor who babysat him when I worked late shifts.

"You're a monster," I choked out.

Nicolo didn't hesitate. He pulled his phone from his pocket and pressed a button. "Dante. Get in here. Now."

Within seconds, the dining room doors swung open, and two of Nicolo’s men stepped inside. Dante, a tall, imposing man with graying temples, looked at the chaos—Sloane pinned to the wall, me crying, Nicolo furious.

"Lock the gates," Nicolo ordered. "Nobody leaves this estate. Dante, send a car to..." He looked at me.

"412 Elm Street," I said, my voice shaking. "Apartment 3B. His name is Leo. He's six."

"You heard her," Nicolo said. "Get the boy. Bring him here."

Dante nodded and vanished down the hall.

Sloane let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "You think it’s that easy, Nicolo? You think you're the only one who commands loyalty in this city? You've spent the last three years trying to turn your family's syndicate into a legitimate shipping company. Your men are bored. They're broke. And they are very, very easily bought."

Nicolo stared at her. "What did you do?"

"I diversified," Sloane said proudly. "I gave them a way to make real money while you played corporate businessman. Half your crew answers to me now."

"We'll see about that," Nicolo said. He turned to his remaining guard. "Take her to the study. Lock the door. Do not let her out under any circumstances."

As the guard dragged a kicking, protesting Sloane down the hall, I collapsed into one of the dining chairs, clutching Leo’s drawing to my chest. I couldn't stop crying. I was a single mother. I had taken this job because it paid double what the diner paid, and the tips from the wealthy guests were supposed to help me move us out of our bad neighborhood. I had walked right into a trap.

Lucy was still standing in the corner, her face pale.

"Lucy," Nicolo said gently. "Come here."

She walked over slowly.

"Are you safe at home?" he asked.

She nodded. "I live with my parents."

"Good. I'm going to have my driver take you there. You do not come back here. You understand? You block the agency's number, and you tell your parents everything."

"What about Mara?" Lucy asked, her voice trembling.

"Mara stays with me until her son is safe," Nicolo said.

He looked at me, his dark eyes softening just a fraction. "I swear on my life, Mara. I will get your boy back."

We waited for twenty agonizing minutes. Nicolo poured me a glass of water, but I couldn't drink it. I paced the floor, staring at the clock on the mantle. Every tick was a hammer against my skull.

Finally, heavy footsteps echoed in the marble hallway.

Dante walked into the dining room. He looked grim. He was alone.

"Where is he?" I demanded, rushing forward. "Where is Leo?"

Dante didn't answer me. He looked at Nicolo and reached into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a heavy, tarnished silver rosary and set it gently on the mahogany table.