The Mafia Boss Thought She Vanished Forever—Until Her Dying Dog Led Him to a Bleeding 5-Year-Old Girl Who Shared His Blood!

Upstairs in the west wing, Isabella pulled Sophia into her arms, shielding the little girl’s trembling body beneath her own. ""Shh, baby, stay down! Close your ears, Sophia!""

Max stood between them and the terrace doors, his hackles raised like razor wire, a terrifying, guttural roar ripping from his throat. The glass French doors shattered inward under a hail of boots and assault rifles.

Three masked mercenaries poured into the room, their weapons trained on the bed.

""Grab the kid!"" the lead gunman barked through a ballistic mask. ""Rossi wants the little girl alive for leverage—put two in the mother!""

Before the mercenary could shoulder his rifle, eighty pounds of furious, snarling German Shepherd launched across the room. Max hit the lead gunman’s chest like a battering ram, clamping his jaws down onto the man’s gun arm with crushing force. The mercenary screamed in agony as his rifle discharged harmlessly into the plaster ceiling.

""Get this damn beast off me!"" the man shrieked, thrashing on the floor.

The second gunman raised his sidearm to shoot Max point-blank.

BANG.

The second gunman dropped like a sack of stones, a bullet hole perfectly centered between his tactical goggles.

Alessandro stood in the doorway, smoke curling from the barrel of his Glock. His eyes were devoid of mercy. He fired two more rapid shots, dropping the third intruder before the man could even pivot his weapon.

Alessandro stepped into the room, kicking the rifle away from the man struggling under Max’s jaws. He pressed the hot muzzle of his weapon directly against the mercenary’s temple. ""Call him off! CALL HIM OFF!"" the man sobbed.

""Who sent you?"" Alessandro whispered.

""Rossi! He’s at the boathouse... waiting for the signal... he has a speedboat to flee across the Sound!""

Alessandro signaled Max with a sharp snap of his fingers. ""Heel, Max.""

The dog released the shredded arm, backing toward Isabella and Sophia, panting heavily, blood dripping from his muzzle.

Luca arrived with four heavily armed estate guards, securing the hallway.

Alessandro turned to Isabella. Her face was pale with shock, but her eyes held a fierce, fiery resolve. Sophia peeked out from her mother’s chest, crying silently, clutching the wooden Sicilian music box to her chest.

""You protected us,"" Sophia sniffled, her voice trembling. ""You're like a knight.""

Alessandro knelt down beside her, wiping a speck of dust from her cheek with his clean hand. ""I will never let anyone hurt you again, Sophia. Never. Go with Luca down to the safe room. I have to finish this.""

He looked at Isabella. She grabbed his arm, her fingers sinking into his wool sweater.