Chapter 4 - The Little Girl's Secret
Down in the east wing, little Lucia Reyes sat wrapped in a warm blanket on a plush sofa, sipping hot cocoa with tiny marshmallows. Marisol sat beside her, stroking her hair. Despite the luxury of the room, Lucia's sharp eyes were fixed on a small leather pouch she had clutched in her hand the entire time.
"Lucia, sweetheart, you did a very brave thing," Marisol whispered, kissing her forehead. "But you must promise me you will stay quiet now. These are dangerous men."
"Mom, I'm not scared," Lucia said quietly. She opened the leather pouch and tipped it upside down. A small, shiny object rolled out onto the coffee table—a gold cufflink bearing the Falcone family crest, encrusted with a distinctive sapphire stone.
"Where did you get that?" Marisol gasped, staring at the expensive jewelry in horror.
"I didn't just find the baby in the trash, Mom," Lucia explained in a whisper. "When I heard the crying, I hid behind the laundry cart. I saw the lady in the silk robe—the one who talked to Mr. Falcone—drop the baby. And when she turned around to leave, this fell out of her sleeve. I picked it up before she saw me."
Marisol’s heart stopped. The lady in the silk robe was Isabella Cross. Stealing from or accusing a high-ranking member of the Falcone household could get them both killed instantly.
Before Marisol could figure out what to do, the door swung open. Marcus Falcone stood in the doorway, his tall frame filling the entrance. He looked tired, but his eyes burned with intense focus. He scanned the room and saw the gold cufflink resting on the table.
"Whose is that?" Marcus asked, his voice low and dangerous.
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Lucia looked up bravely, meeting the mafia boss's intimidating gaze without flinching. "It belongs to the lady who tried to say the baby wasn't yours, sir. I found it right where she dropped my little brother—right where she threw him away."
Marcus stepped forward slowly, picking up the cufflink. He recognized it instantly. It didn't belong to Isabella; it belonged to her brother, Julian Cross, who managed the Falcone family's international financial accounts. A web of conspiracy was suddenly stretching wider than Marcus had ever imagined.
