Chapter 1 - THE TIE IN THE MARBLE HALLWAY
Midday sun poured through the massive floor-to-ceiling glass windows of Alessandro Duca’s ultra-luxury penthouse, casting long, brilliant rectangles of natural light across the pristine white marble floor. Beyond the glass, the sprawling Chicago skyline stretched out under a clear blue sky, towering skyscrapers glittering in the sunlight. Inside the hallway, the atmosphere was thick with quiet power and modern extravagance.
Through the open double doors of his private office, multi-million-dollar monitors glowed along the back wall, displaying an active international video conference with board members and syndicate bosses across three continents.
Alessandro Duca stepped out of his office onto the cold marble, adjusting his cufflink.
At thirty-nine, Alessandro was an intimidating, larger-than-life figure—tall, broad-shouldered, with dark wavy hair swept neatly back, sharp masculine features, and an athletic, model-like physique. Because he had just stepped away from the high-stakes video call, he wore a tailored black three-piece suit, a crisp white shirt, a slim black silk tie, polished black leather shoes, a luxury chronograph watch, and heavy signet rings on his fingers. Dark, intricate tattoo ink crept up past his starched shirt collar along his neck and covered the backs of his broad hands. Normally cold, calculating, and completely in control of every breath in the room, he moved with absolute authority.
Then, Alessandro’s polished leather shoe came to a sudden, jarring halt.
He looked down.
Sitting directly on the white marble floor between his feet was eight-month-old Mia. She was an adorable baby with fair skin, soft light-brown hair adorned with a tiny pink bow, wearing a delicate pink summer dress. She was staring up at the towering crime boss with wide, curious eyes.
In her tiny right fist, she was happily and firmly gripping the bottom tip of Alessandro’s black silk tie, giving it a playful, rhythmic tug.
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Alessandro stood completely frozen in sheer, unadulterated disbelief.
"How long have you been hiding a baby in my home?" Alessandro asked, his voice a deep, quiet baritone that echoed down the polished corridor.
