A FEARED MAFIA BOSS KNELT BEFORE MY WHEELCHAIR—BUT MY FIVE-WORD QUESTION LEFT HIM SPEECHLESS

Dominic didn't remember the drive back to New York.

He remembered only the image of Lily sitting alone, the gloved hand, and the terrible certainty that every mile between him and the orphanage had become a weapon.

Elena sat beside him, clutching her silver necklace.

"They know she's alive," she whispered.

"They've known for years."

"No. They know she's with you now."

Dominic glanced at her.

"Who is doing this?"

She hesitated.

"Someone who wants the Moretti empire."

"Vivienne?"

"She was involved, but she wasn't the one who took Lily."

"Then who?"

Elena looked out the window.

"Someone you buried."

Before he could ask another question, his phone rang.

Mrs. Bell.

He answered immediately.

"Where is Lily?"

"She's here," Mrs. Bell said, sounding frightened. "But someone came into the building. They said they were from child services."

Dominic's grip tightened.

"Did you see identification?"

"They had badges. They said there'd been a complaint about your background and that Lily needed to be moved while the agency investigated."

"Where is she now?"

"They took her."

The words landed like a physical blow.

"Who authorized it?"

"They showed me a court order."

"Read me the name on it."

Mrs. Bell began to cry.

"Dominic, I'm so sorry. I thought they were legitimate."

He ended the call and ordered his driver to turn toward the orphanage.

Elena grabbed his arm.

"Wait."

"Get your hand off me."

"Listen! If you go in there with armed men, they'll move her again. They want you angry. They want you reckless."

Dominic stared at her.

"My daughter has been taken."

"I know. She's my daughter, too."

For a moment, the words silenced him.

Elena leaned forward.

"We need to find out where they took her. Anthony had a private property outside the city. It was used for family gatherings. If the people behind this are using his old connections, that's where they'll go."

Dominic called Victor's replacement and ordered a team to investigate the court order. The document was fraudulent, issued through a shell organization that had been dissolved two years earlier.

The trail led to a private estate in Westchester.

Dominic recognized the address.

It belonged to the Moretti family trust.

His father's old country house.

They arrived shortly before midnight.

The estate was dark except for a single light in an upstairs window. Two security vehicles stood near the gate.

Dominic left most of his men behind and approached the house with Elena beside him.

"I should go in alone," he said.

"No."

"It's too dangerous."

"She's my daughter."

He looked at Elena's face and saw the same determination that had once made him fall in love with her.

They entered through the kitchen.

Inside, the house smelled of dust and wood polish. The furniture had been covered with white sheets, and portraits of dead Morettis watched from the walls.

A child's voice drifted from upstairs.

"Mr. Bear?"

Dominic ran.

He found Lily in a bedroom, sitting on a small sofa with her teddy bear clutched against her chest. Her cheeks were wet, but she was unharmed.

When she saw him, she reached out.

"Dominic!"

He dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm here, princess. I'm here."

She buried her face against his shoulder.

"They said you weren't coming."

His heart broke.

"Who said that?"

"The lady."

"What lady?"

Lily pointed toward the doorway.

Vivienne stood there holding a glass of water.

"Don't look at me like that," she said. "I made sure she was comfortable."

Dominic rose slowly.

"You abducted my daughter."

"I arranged for her protection."

"You forged a court order."

"Because you were going to take her into a criminal household!"

Dominic laughed once, without humor.

"You brought her to my father's estate."

"Where no one would think to look."

"Except you."

Vivienne's composure cracked.

"You don't understand what I've sacrificed for this family."

Elena stepped into the room.

"Tell him what you did to me."

Vivienne went pale.

"Lena."

"Tell him why you helped Anthony take our daughter."

Vivienne looked between them.

Then, unexpectedly, she began to cry.

"Because he promised me the company."

Dominic went still.

"What?"

"Anthony told me that if Lily disappeared and Elena stayed dead, the family trust would pass to me if anything happened to you. I was supposed to help maintain the business while you grieved."

"You helped my father steal my child for money?"

"I didn't know he would hurt Elena!"

Elena's voice shook.

"You left me in a hospital room while he took my baby."

"I was trying to survive!"

"So was I!"

Lily began to tremble.

Dominic immediately turned toward her.

"Look at me, princess. You're safe."

But Lily wasn't looking at him.

She was staring at Vivienne.

The older woman had reached into her handbag.