THE LITTLE GIRL ASKED TO SIT WITH A STRANGER—BUT HER MOTHER NEVER EXPECTED THE MAFIA BOSS TO RECOGNIZE HER FACE

had decided.

He froze for half a second.

Then his arms closed around her.

“Damen!”

Lily came running from the side of the house and wrapped herself around his thigh.

The three of them stood in fallen leaves under a thin afternoon sun.

For a long minute, nobody moved.

“It’s done,” Damen said quietly into Clara’s hair. “You and Lily are safe.”

Clara cried then.continue reading …