Chapter 4 - The Birthmark Beneath the Uniform
Emily tried to keep her composure, but her heart hammered against her ribs. She had spent her entire life in and out of foster homes in upstate New York, carrying no name, no family history, and only a tiny silver locket containing a blurred photograph of a waterfront estate.
"I don't know what kind of sick game you're playing," Emily said defensively, backing away from the bar. "I'm just a waitress trying to finish my shift."
"My sister had a distinct crescent-shaped birthmark on her left shoulder," Matteo continued softly, his voice devoid of threat, replaced by a desperate, hopeful tone. "And she was three years old when she was taken from our family in 1999."
Emily felt the room spin. She subconsciously reached up, her hand touching her left shoulder beneath the sky-blue uniform—where a dark, crescent-shaped mark had been etched into her skin since birth.
Before Matteo could say another word, the diner door swung open violently.
Vincent’s rival underboss, a ruthless gangster named Paulie "The Butcher" Vane, stepped into the diner accompanied by four armed mercenaries.
Paulie had been following the Moretti family vehicles, looking for any sign of weakness. He saw Matteo alone inside the diner with a defenseless waitress.
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"Well, well, if it isn't the Moretti prince," Paulie sneered, pulling a suppressed firearm from his leather jacket. "Looks like tonight, the Moretti bloodline ends in a greasy spoon."
👉 Read Part 5 to see how Emily reacts under fire.
