Chapter 1 - The Messenger in the Hallway
Under the glowing crystal chandeliers of the luxury estate, three-year-old Lucy Carter stood barefoot on the cold marble floor. Her brown hair was pinned in a small, messy bun, her floral dress crumpled beneath a beige cardigan. In her tiny hands, she clutched a heavy black wooden chess rook.
Dante Marino, the feared boss of the city's underbelly, dropped to one knee before the child. His dark, tailored black suit creaked as he crouched, his sharp jawline set with confusion.
"My mama hasn’t come back... the men came," Lucy whispered, her small voice trembling with quiet panic.
Dante stared at the child, his eyes locking onto the black wooden rook held in her hands. His pulse spiked instantly. That piece wasn't just a toy. It was a secret emergency signal—a code only three people in the world knew.
"Who gave you this?" Dante asked, his low, intense voice cutting through the silent marble hallway.
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Lucy pointed toward the grand wrought-iron entrance doors. Before she could answer further, the distant screech of tires echoed across the estate grounds.
👉 Read on to discover the dark signal hidden behind the black chess piece.
