Chapter 1 - THE NAME THAT MADE THE MAFIA BOSS FREEZE
Dante Moretti had faced armed enemies without flinching, but the name of an exhausted nurse's mother made him forget the scratch on his $300,000 car.
"Lorraine Daniels?" he repeated.
Bethany stared at him.
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
Dante's expression became unreadable.
"How old is your mother?"
Bethany folded her arms.
"Are you planning to date her? Because I should warn you, she comes with significant financial expectations."
One of Dante's bodyguards, Marco, coughed to hide a laugh.
Dante didn't smile.
"Please answer."
"Fifty-eight. Why?"
Something dark passed through his eyes.
"Did she ever live in Cleveland?"
Bethany's stomach tightened.
"My mother lived in Cleveland before I was born."
Dante slowly turned toward Marco.
"Get the car ready."
Then he looked back at Bethany.
"Miss Daniels, you need to call your mother."
She blinked.
"That's what I've been trying not to do for the past forty minutes."
"Call her now."
His voice had changed.
The playful edge was gone.
Bethany felt an unexpected flicker of fear.
She dialed Lorraine.
The phone rang once.
Twice.
Then her mother answered.
"Bethany! Finally! I've been calling you all morning!"
"Mom, what's wrong?"
"You need to come home."
"Why?"
"Just come home."
Bethany closed her eyes.
"Mom, I just finished a twelve-hour shift. I haven't slept. Please tell me what's happening."
Lorraine hesitated.
Then whispered, "Did you meet a man today?"
Bethany went completely still.
"What?"
"A tall man. Dark hair. Expensive black coat."
Bethany slowly looked at Dante.
He was watching her.
"Mom, how would you know that?"
Lorraine began breathing rapidly.
"Oh, God."
"Mom?"
"Bethany, get away from him."
Dante took one step closer.
"What is she saying?"
Bethany ignored him.
"Mom, who is he?"
Lorraine's voice cracked.
"Sweetheart, listen to me. Whatever he tells you, don't trust him."
"Why?"
A long silence followed.
Then Lorraine whispered something Bethany could barely understand.
"Because his father is the reason your father never came home."
The call disconnected.
Bethany stared at her phone.
Her father had died when she was four.
At least, that was what Lorraine had always told her.
She slowly raised her eyes toward Dante.
"What did your family do to my father?"
For the first time that morning, Dante Moretti looked genuinely shaken.
Then he answered with a question that made the cold air feel suddenly unbearable.
"Bethany, did your mother tell you your father's name was Michael Daniels?"
"Yes."
Dante's jaw tightened.
"Then she lied."
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He looked directly into her eyes.
"Your father's real name was Antonio Moretti."
