The Mob Boss Came Home With a Ring — a Crying Little Girl Begged Him to Save Her Mother From His Own Fiancée. The hands wrapped around Alessandro Vieri's lapels were small enough to vanish inside his own palm, and they were trembling so hard he could feel the tremor traveling up his spine like an electric wire. The voice that cracked against his chest did not belong in a mafia boss's foyer at dusk. It belonged to a child. Please save my mama. The pretty lady said if she talks, she'll disappear. Please don't let her take my mama away.

The account belonged to a private trust registered under a company that no longer appeared to conduct business.

It had received regular deposits for years, followed by small withdrawals every month. Someone had paid for medical consultations, travel, and discreet accommodation.

The account's authorized contact was listed as Henry Bellini.

“He's financing someone,” Nico said. “And he knows we're looking.”

Alessandro ordered his lawyers to request the relevant records through the proper legal channels. He refused to risk exposing Chiara or Mia to a reckless search.

Meanwhile, Serena returned to the estate without warning.

She wore no makeup, and her engagement ring was gone.

“Please let me explain,” she begged.

Alessandro remained behind his desk.

“You have five minutes.”

Serena claimed Henry had promised her a fortune if she helped obtain Alessandro's signature on documents transferring several assets into a private holding company. She insisted she had believed the papers were legitimate until she discovered that the wedding was intended to make the transfer harder to challenge.

“And Vittorio?” Alessandro asked.

“He wanted control of the trust. Henry wanted the money. I was supposed to become your wife and provide the signature they needed.”

“Why threaten Chiara?”

Serena looked at the floor.

“Because she overheard the part about what would happen if the transfer failed.”

“What happens?”

Serena's voice dropped.

“They planned to make you look unstable, isolate you, and force the court to appoint someone else to manage your affairs. If you resisted, they would use the old allegations against your father to destroy your reputation.”

Alessandro's expression hardened.

Serena reached into her purse and produced a small flash drive.

“I copied the messages. I can prove what they planned.”

He did not take it.

“Why should I trust you now?”

“You shouldn't,” she admitted. “But I want out.”

Before Nico could collect the drive, a window shattered in the adjoining room. Security moved quickly, guiding Chiara and Mia into a protected hallway.

When the house was secure, the flash drive was gone.