r. Someone had betrayed father, and

k as she organized her things. Anto

ime," she said

worn and defeated. "The Salvatores agr

father's main restaurant, providing a neutr

you were h

, producing a sharp rattling sound.

her veins.

world." A prolonged pause. "Vincenzo Salvatore says he'

clear. If she refused,

" she final

softened. "Cara mia, you don't have to decide eve

her eyes. "I'

at your apartment at sev

this, I'm not going to arrive like a prin

phi

lve. "Besides, whoever leaked information about the ledg

pread bet

lly concluded, proud despite his worry. "Fine. Drive yourself

after they had disconnected. How could she concentrate

ies: teaching, office hours, and faculty meetings. Normal

ting. This wasn't just dinner, but a message. Her typical business clothes, as

ed at power without displaying it. Her mother's pearl earrings completed the set. Sophia studied her refle

between. Some

from her father: Be careful.

led with pleasant light, with couples and business companions visible through the windows, e

Miss Ricci," he said, bowing slightly. "You

. She kept her chin up, channeling the confidence she'd witnessed in her fathe

d' told her as he opened the door to the private dini

nto a chair facing the door. Never turn your back

a checked her phone at 8:15. No messages. She texte

espo

her spine. She called Anton

ng wasn

ominick next

er her. The Salvatores' absence could be a power move, causing her

order, Miss Ricci? Or continue to wait?" "Has there

I'm aware

e. party?" "I need to ca

aurant's ambient noise became stifling, the joyful chatter an

ion, when she noticed a ruckus near the kitchen. Staff members got toget

d. "Is everyt

ent, their eyes expa

was cut off by a crash from the kitche

orth side of the structure

pening?" S

ncident at your father's restaurant

ver her. "What ki

ntly. "We just got word." She

t. Her hands trembled as she fumbled with her car keys, d

rough traffic, exceeding all speed limits. Her father's second restaurant, Famiglia, was sm

d red glow throughout the darkness. Sophia abandoned her automob

she called over her sh

kept back a growing crowd of bystanders and jou

"No one's allowed in, ma'am," a

name is Sophia Ricci. "That

the officer's face, followe

you need to

ing across the walkway like diamonds. Through the fractured pan

father?" Her v

radio. "Captain, we have Anton

nto the restaurant, grim-faced and pale. He spo

I am Detective

face, already knowing the ans

y to info

him," she

nished even her-caused the investigator to q

ly. "But I have to warn yo

oss the white walls. Shell casings littered the floor. Sophia recognized with d

. Before they arrived, a group of paramedics emerged, wheelin

voice faraway in her own

looks with the detectiv

ed aside the covers. Despite the

rehead-execution style. His eyes were closed, and his lips were sl

Carter explained softly. "A professional hit. Witnes

ifeless body. Sophia reached out and touched his still warm hand. The Ricci fa

Carter explained. "The m

away from her father. Something about her t

tated, then took a ste

ody. Sophia leaned close. "I'm so sorry,"

s man, who appeared indestructible and dominated her

ped by her father's other hand. Sophia delicately extracted it, c

site penmanship co

ever put your trust in an

o her handbag right as

need to ask you

htened; someth

ssimo earlier that evening had gone. In her plac

hin, her voice remained firm. "But first, I have to

's signet ring in her pocket, wh

. She now held the final piece of Antonio Ricc

st n

g her father's last minutes, at the body of the guy who had Sophia

. Someone had planned this carefully, so she wouldn't

ood can

bvious. The time for running fr

e would have an