Chapter 2 — The Only Person He Trusted

Dominic stared at Sophie as if she had just performed a miracle.

The baby's cries weakened.

One sharp sob became a hiccup.

Another became silence.

For the first time since entering Bellavita, every person inside the restaurant could hear the rain again.

The newborn rested against Sophie's forearm, his tiny body finally relaxing. His clenched fists slowly opened.

One finger wrapped around Sophie's thumb.

Dominic didn't move.

He couldn't.

"You..." he whispered.

"He's falling asleep," Sophie said gently. "Don't speak too loudly."

No one had ever told Dominic Moretti to lower his voice.

Tonight, he obeyed.

One of the bodyguards blinked.

"I've never seen him sleep this fast."

Sophie carefully rubbed small circles across the baby's back.

"He isn't difficult," she explained.

"He's overwhelmed."

Dominic frowned.

"I've hired two pediatric nurses."

"They quit."

"I hired another."

"She quit too."

"I even flew in a specialist from New York."

"He screamed for six hours."

Sophie looked at him.

"Did anyone ever ask how often someone actually held him?"

Dominic remained silent.

The silence answered for him.

"I..." he finally admitted.

"I was afraid I'd hurt him."

The confession stunned every guard.

Dominic Moretti wasn't afraid of senators.

He wasn't afraid of rival families.

He wasn't afraid of prison.

But he was terrified of holding his own son.

Sophie looked at the sleeping baby.

"What's his name?"

Dominic swallowed.

"Nico."

She smiled softly.

"Hello, Nico."

The baby's lips twitched into something almost like a smile.

That tiny movement shattered the last wall inside Dominic.

"My wife died giving birth," he said quietly.

"The nurses left."

"My enemies are everywhere."

"I know how to protect a business."

"I know how to protect an empire."

"I don't know how to protect him."

Sophie looked into his exhausted eyes.

For the first time, she didn't see Chicago's most feared mafia boss.

She saw a father drowning.

Then Dominic said something no one expected.

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"I need your help."

The restaurant fell silent once again.