She had seven bullet wounds in her body, a tube down her throat, three surgeons arguing over whether her heart could survive another operation, and absolutely no idea that the most feared crime boss in New York had just placed his gold ring on her swollen finger.

"Costa," Dominic growled.

In an instant, the emotional vulnerability vanished, replaced by the lethal predator of the Rossi empire. He pulled a heavy silver handgun from his waistband, cocked it, and grabbed Clara’s arm.

"Enzo!" Dominic shouted, throwing the study door open.

Enzo ran up the corridor, blood dripping from a cut on his forehead. "They breached the front gate, Boss! They brought heavy firepower—RPGs and heavy rifles. Victor is here himself!"

"Get my mother to the safe room beneath the wine cellar," Dominic ordered calmly, pushing Clara toward Enzo. "Take Clara with you. Lock the vault from the inside. Do not open it for anyone except me."

"No!" Clara grabbed Dominic’s sleeve. "What are you going to do?"

Dominic looked down at her, a bitter, tragic smile touching his lips. "I'm going to end the war I started the night I put this ring on your finger."

"Dominic, don't—"

"Go!" Dominic barked. He shoved her toward Enzo, turned on his heel, and strode down the grand staircase toward the sounds of shattering glass and gunfire.

Enzo dragged a crying Clara down through the hidden passages of the mansion, guiding her into a massive, steel-reinforced bunker built beneath the estate's foundations. Isabella was already there, sitting quietly on a couch, clutching her rosary.

"Clara!" Isabella rushed forward, pulling the girl into a fierce hug as Enzo slammed the heavy steel door shut, sealing them off from the world above.

The heavy thuds of explosions and muffled gunfire vibrated through the concrete walls. Minutes felt like agonizing hours. Clara sat on the floor, holding her head, her mind torn between the revelation of her true identity and the terrifying realization that she couldn't bear the thought of Dominic dying.

Suddenly, the power flickered and died. The bunker was plunged into red emergency lighting.

From the hallway outside the vault door, the gunfire stopped.