Chapter 1
## CHAPTER 2 — THE LITTLE GIRL'S WARNING
“Mr. Dante?”
Sophie’s voice was so small that under ordinary circumstances, no one would have heard it.
But the ballroom had fallen silent.
Dante looked down at the little girl.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
She pointed at the red ribbon.
“Please don't open that present.”
A nervous laugh escaped one of the guests.
Someone whispered that children had the wildest imaginations.
But Dante didn't laugh.
Because Sophie wasn't looking at the box.
She was looking at Marcus.
And Marcus was looking at the nearest exit.
Dante slowly lowered himself onto one knee.
“Why shouldn't I open it, Sophie?”
Her lower lip trembled.
“Because Uncle Marcus said you wouldn't see tomorrow.”
The silence that followed was absolute.
Dante felt something cold settle beneath his ribs.
Behind him, Marcus chuckled.
“Kids,” he said. “They hear something on television and suddenly everybody's a villain.”
But Sophie shook her head.
“No. I heard you.”
Marcus's smile disappeared.
Dante kept his eyes on the child.
“What else did you hear?”
Sophie twisted the hem of her yellow dress.
“He was in the little room where Mommy keeps the clean napkins. He had your present. And he was talking on his phone.”
“What did he say?”
She swallowed.
“He said, ‘When the ribbon comes off.’”
Dante didn't move.
“He said it two times.”
A muscle jumped in Marcus's jaw.
Sophie continued.
“And there was a little silver thing inside the box. He put it under the soft part. I saw him.”
Dante finally turned toward Marcus.
Eleven years.
Eleven years of shared meals, whispered plans, funerals, celebrations, and promises.
Marcus had stood beside Dante when his father died.
He had held Dante's shoulders when his younger brother was buried.
He had once taken a bullet meant for him.
And now he was standing three feet away, sweating through a three-thousand-dollar suit.
“Marcus,” Dante said quietly.
“Yes, boss?”
“Don't move.”
Marcus smiled.
“Dante, seriously—”
“I said don't move.”
Two security guards near the entrance straightened.
Marcus noticed.
And for one terrible second, Dante saw the truth in his oldest friend's eyes.
Not confusion.
Not outrage.
Calculation.
Marcus reached inside his jacket.
“DOWN!”
Dante's command shattered the ballroom.
He grabbed Sophie, turned his body around hers, and dropped behind the marble gift table.
A gunshot cracked through the room.
Crystal exploded.
Guests screamed.
Marcus had fired toward the nearest guard.
But before he could fire again, Dante's head of security, Rafael Costa, slammed into him.