Six days after giving birth to our daughter, my husband walked out of our house to celebrate his mistress's birthday. He promised he'd be home before nine, but hours later, I was still alone with our newborn when a voicemail from an unknown number appeared on my phone. By the time Roman Moretti finally came home, the nursery was empty—and the most feared mafia boss in Milwaukee was about to discover what it felt like to lose everything.

I didn't scream.

I wanted to, but Sophie was sleeping, and the last thing I wanted was to frighten her.

I locked the nursery door, placed her in my arms, and called the one person Roman had forbidden me to contact.

My older brother, Daniel.

He answered on the second ring.

"Aaron? What's wrong?"

I sent him the photograph, the voicemail, and the message from the envelope.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then his voice changed.

"Get Sophie. Pack whatever you need. I'm coming."

"Daniel, tell me what you know."

"I'll explain when I'm there."

"No. Not another secret. Not tonight."

A heavy silence followed.

Finally, he said, "Three days before Sophie was born, I received a call from someone inside Roman's organization. He told me there was a plan to take the baby."

My knees weakened.

"Why?"

"Because Roman's enemies believe Sophie gives them leverage over him. But that's not the whole story."

I looked toward the nursery door.

"What aren't you telling me?"

Before Daniel could answer, headlights swept across the bedroom curtains.

A black SUV had stopped outside.

My phone vibrated.

Roman.

For the first time all evening, he was calling me.

I answered without speaking.

"Aaron, where are you?"

"At home. Where you left me."

"Listen carefully. I need you to take Sophie into the basement and lock the door."

My heart began pounding.

"Why?"

"Because somebody has entered the house."

A crash sounded downstairs.

Then a man's voice shouted Roman's name.

I clutched Sophie against my chest.

"Where are you?"

"Two minutes away."

"You're coming home?"

"I'm already on my way."

I almost laughed at the absurdity of it. Hours earlier, he'd walked out to celebrate another woman's birthday. Now he wanted me to believe he could cross the city in two minutes.

Then I heard a second voice through the phone.

Laya's.

"Roman, you promised me you'd finish this tonight."

He said something I couldn't make out.

She answered clearly.

"You can't keep both women alive forever."

The call disconnected.

I stared at my phone.

Then someone knocked on the nursery door.

Three times.

A man's voice came through the wood.

"Mrs. Moretti, it's security. Open up."