Chapter 1 - The Three Hundred Dollars That Changed Everything
The most feared mafia boss in Chicago was holding the only bottle of formula I had left for my baby.
And all I wanted was to get out of his office alive.
"Please," I whispered. "My son is eight months old. He's waiting for me."
Ethan Hayes didn't move.
His dark eyes studied my face, then the overdue bills sticking out of my canvas bag.
"How much does Gregory owe you?"
"Three hundred dollars."
"How long have you worked here?"
"Four weeks."
Ethan's expression changed.
"Four weeks for three hundred dollars?"
"It was supposed to be extra money. I was cleaning after hours."
"How many hours?"
I hesitated.
"Almost ninety."
The room went silent.
Ethan slowly leaned back.
"You're telling me my manager made you work ninety hours and promised you three hundred dollars?"
I lowered my eyes.
"He said I should be grateful because nobody else would hire a woman with a baby and no reliable transportation."
Something dangerous flashed across Ethan's face.
"Did he put that in writing?"
I nodded.
"Text messages."
"Show me."
I reached for my phone.
Then remembered the time.
"Mr. Hayes, please. I can show you everything tomorrow. But Mrs. Higgins is going to leave, and Sam can't be alone."
Ethan glanced at his watch.
Then pressed a button on his desk.
A tall man appeared immediately.
"Boss?"
"Marco, bring the car around. We're taking Miss Davis home."
I stared.
"What?"
Ethan handed me my bag.
"Your son comes first."
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then he added, "And Norah?"
"Yes?"
"Nobody who works for me gets to steal wages from a mother trying to feed her child."
My eyes burned.
I wanted to thank him.
Instead, my stomach growled so loudly that both men heard it.
Marco looked away politely.
Ethan didn't.
"When did you last eat?"
I felt my cheeks turn red.
"I'm fine."
"That's not what I asked."
"Yesterday."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
He picked up his phone.
"Have the kitchen prepare a meal to go. Something easy on her stomach."
I shook my head.
"I can't pay for that."
His eyes met mine.
"I didn't ask you to."
Ten minutes later, I was sitting in the back of a black SUV with a warm blanket over my knees and a paper bag of food in my lap.
Ethan sat beside me.
He hadn't asked for my address twice.
That worried me.
"How did you know my name?" I asked.
"Your employment file."
I swallowed.
"Oh."
"Gregory had it in his office."
I looked out the window.
Rain streaked across the glass.
Chicago's skyscrapers glittered in the distance.
Then Ethan spoke.
"Why did Gregory fire you?"
"He said I was stealing."
"What were you accused of taking?"
I stared at my hands.
"A silver bracelet."
"Did you take it?"
"No."
The word came out sharper than I intended.
Ethan watched me.
"I believe you."
I turned toward him.
"You don't even know me."
"No," he answered. "But I know Gregory."
Something about his tone made my skin prickle.
Before I could ask another question, we reached my apartment building.
Mrs. Higgins stood outside beneath a broken awning, holding Sam.
My baby was crying.
I jumped out before the driver could open the door.
"Sam!"
Mrs. Higgins looked furious.
"Norah! I told you six thirty!"
"I'm sorry. I fainted at work."
She looked at Ethan climbing from the SUV.
Her expression changed.
"Who is that?"
"Someone who gave me a ride."
She pushed Sam toward me.
"I can't do this anymore. Find another sitter."
Then she hurried away.
I held my son close.
His tiny hands grabbed my sweater.
"Mommy's here," I whispered. "I'm here, sweetheart."
Ethan stood several feet away.
He didn't interrupt.
But when Sam finally stopped crying, Ethan looked at him strangely.
Almost painfully.
"How old did you say he was?"
"Eight months."
Ethan stepped closer.
His eyes moved toward the small blue blanket wrapped around my son.
Then he went completely still.
"Where did you get that blanket?"
I frowned.
"His father gave it to me before he disappeared."
Ethan's face drained of color.
He slowly reached toward the blanket, then stopped himself.
"May I see the corner?"
I hesitated.
Then lifted it slightly.
There was a tiny embroidered symbol near the edge.
A silver wolf.
Ethan stared.
For several seconds, he didn't breathe normally.
Then he whispered something I wasn't prepared to hear.
"That blanket belonged to my family."
I tightened my arms around Sam.
"What?"
Ethan looked directly into my eyes.
"Norah, who is your son's father?"
I swallowed.
"His name is Daniel."
Ethan's expression turned deadly serious.
"Daniel what?"
My voice trembled.
"Daniel Hayes."
Ethan stepped backward.
And for the first time, the most feared man in Chicago looked terrified.
"Daniel Hayes," he repeated.
May you like
Then he whispered the words that changed my life.
"Norah, Daniel is my younger brother."
