~SEVEN DAYS AGO~

The night bleeds silence.

The phone rings while Lorenzo sits in his study, half a glass of scotch untouched before him.

The lamp burns low, painting gold on the papers scattered across his desk. He doesn’t even flinch when the phone vibrates….only glances at the name flashing on the screen.

Matteo…One of his boys.

He lifts the phone to his ear, voice calm and measured. “Yes.”

A pause follows….. too long, too heavy.

“Boss…” Matteo’s voice cracks. “It’s… it’s Donna Isabella.”

Lorenzo straightens slowly.

“What about her?”

“There was an ambush on the highway. Two black SUVs, unmarked. We fought back, but….” Matteo swallows. “Her car got...