Rich Mafia Boss Was Certain He Had No Children—Until He Recognized A Ring On Two Lost Twin Girls

At 6:00 AM, the storm subsided, leaving Chicago buried under four feet of glittering, lethal ice.

Inside the Ferro compound, the atmosphere was that of a war room on the eve of an invasion. Forty men in black tactical gear checked weapons, primed night-vision gear, and loaded heavy ammunition clips into submachine guns.

Alessio sat in the dining hall, watching his daughters eat silver-dollar pancakes prepared by his personal chef. Despite being thrust into a world of armed men and silent marble halls, the little girls showed no fear.

Aria looked up, her fork resting on her plate. "Papa?"

The word hit Alessio like a sledgehammer. He kept his expression neutral, leaning forward. "Yes, Aria?"

"Mama said you have a big castle, but it’s very dark because you forget to open the windows." Aria pointed a syrup-covered finger toward the heavy velvet drapes covering the balcony. "Can we open them?"

Alessio looked at Silas, who was standing by the door. Silas quietly nodded and pulled the heavy gold cords. Bright, blinding morning sunlight poured across the marble floor, illuminating the room in gold.

Elara smiled—a tiny, shy dimple appearing on her right cheek that ripped right through Alessio's chest. "It's pretty now."

Before Alessio could speak, his satellite phone buzzed on the table. The screen displayed an unlisted satellite frequency known only to high-ranking cartel heads.

Alessio picked it up, pressing it to his ear without a word.

"Alessio Ferro," came the smooth, sickeningly familiar voice of Victor Delgado. "I assume my little delivery arrived safely in your ice castle?"

"Victor," Alessio said, his voice dropping into a tone so cold it silenced the entire room. "You have five seconds to give me a reason not to burn every asset you own to the ground."

Victor laughed—a wet, rattling sound. "I don't need five seconds, Ferro. I have your surgeon. She’s been a very quiet guest for the last seventy-two hours, but her stamina is wearing thin. Beautiful woman. It’s a pity you let her play dead for so long."

Alessio’s fist clenched so hard his knuckles popped. "What do you want?"

"The Great Lakes maritime corridor. All your port authority contracts signed over to Delgado Logistics by noon today. And I want you to step down as head of the Ferro syndicate. You do that, and I might leave your woman alive. You refuse, or you bring your soldiers... and I'll send her to you in a box."

"Where is she?" Alessio demanded.