The most feared man in the city dropped to one knee before a toddler, only to look up and recognize her mother in the doorway.

Dominic took another step back toward Sophie, his eyes darting between the mother and the child as if trying to piece together a complex, deadly puzzle that had remained unsolved for years.

When Claire Bennett had applied for the housekeeping position through an agency four days ago, Dominic had assumed it was routine staffing. He never looked at the domestic staff's applications personally; his estate manager handled the background checks.

Now, looking at the hidden Valenti seal stitched inside the child's plush toy, Dominic realized that Sophie's sudden appearance in his grand marble corridor was not a random coincidence.

It was a calculated, deliberate delivery.

"Marco," Dominic commanded, his voice sharp and absolute, though his eyes never left Claire.

"Yes, Boss?" Marco responded instantly, stepping forward.

"Clear the corridor," Dominic ordered. "Take the men outside. Lock down the perimeter gates. Nobody enters or leaves the estate grounds until I say otherwise."

Marco hesitated for half a second, surprised by the order, but the look on Dominic’s face silenced any questions.

"Move out! Now!" Marco barked to the other four guards.

Within seconds, the heavy enforcers retreated down the hallway, their boots echoing against the walls before the grand mahogany doors clicked shut behind them, leaving only Dominic, Claire, and tiny Sophie inside the vast, sunlit corridor.

The room grew eerily quiet, save for the crackle of the wood in the living room fireplace.

Dominic lowered himself back down onto one knee in front of Sophie. He held the white stuffed rabbit out to her, his heavy hand trembling slightly as he placed it back into her small arms.

"Sophie," Dominic said softly, his voice dropping into a gentle tone that his men would have thought impossible. "Who gave you Mr. Buttons?"