When she got home from work, Hannah watched out the window to see if Anton’s car pulled up. She hadn’t told Melody he was coming. She hadn’t gotten dressed or done her hair and makeup. She wasn’t sure he was going to show at all.

But, to her surprise, after she’d been home just a half hour, there was a knock on the door. Hannah opened it to find Anton, looking more stressed than she’d ever seen him.

“Well, look who showed up,” she said.

He didn’t greet her, but quickly stepped into the apartment, glanced around the hall, then shut and locked the door and deadbolt.

This behavior was starting to really scare Hannah. “What’s going on?”

“Let’s go.”

“Daddy?” Melody’s voice, followed by her footsteps, came to them in the hall.

She ran to Anton and he scooped her up in his arms.

“You’re here!” she exclaimed. “I didn’t know you were coming. I have to show you my math test and my art project!”

She ran off and Hannah gave him a look that said, “See, I told you she misses you.”

“I thought you were going to take her to the neighbor’s.”

“I wasn’t going to do that until I was sure you were actually going to show.”

“I’m here. Take her over so we can go.”

“What’s the hurry? We can spend some time with her before we go. I’m not even ready.”

“Please hurry.”

She gave him a questioning look. “What’s going on?”

“We can’t talk here.”

“Okay. I’ll hurry. At least go spend time with your daughter while I get dressed.”

He went into Melody’s bedroom as Hannah went into her own and hurried to get ready. She was going to get answers tonight, whatever it took. He was acting too strangely and it didn’t feel right. Why hadn’t he told her about his grandfather sooner? That was Melody’s great grandfather. They would have gone with him to the funeral and everything, had they known.

She stuck her head in Melody’s bedroom once she was ready. “Hey, silly girl. Ready to go over and see Amy?”

“Oh, I want to go with you guys,” Melody whined.

“Not tonight.” Anton kissed her forehead and hugged her as he stood. “Soon.”

Hannah walked Melody over to the neighbor’s apartment, then followed Anton as he hurried her into the waiting car. This was a car she’d never seen before. Jet black with heavily tinted windows. This was a car someone took when they didn’t want to be seen.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“Somewhere safe.”

“Are we going to eat?”

“Sure.”

She let out a huff. “What is going on with you? When did your grandfather die? Why didn’t you tell me? I would have been there for you.”

“That’s why I couldn’t tell you.”

“That makes no sense. Why isn’t it safe for you to be seen with me?”

He shook his head. “It’s not safe for you to be seen with me.”

“Why?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

She crossed her arms and looked out the window. “How is this ever going to work if I know nothing of what is going on with you?”

“I’ve been asking myself that same question.”

They barely spoke until they reached the restaurant. Hannah took a look at the building and eyed him.

“A public place? Are you sure it’s safe here?”

“I’ve done my best to make sure.”

They got out of the car and a second car pulled up. Several men in dark suits got out and followed them inside.

“Increased security?” she asked.

He nodded.

All through dinner, she questioned him, but got nothing. She could barely eat. She had no idea if he was going to be around tomorrow or next week or next month. She didn’t know when he’d disappear again. She had no idea what the danger was and that, too, made her uneasy.

“You’re not eating,” he said.

“How can I?”

He put his hand to his forehead and rubbed his temples. “I’m sorry.”

“Then tell me what is going on!”

“Sir.” One of the men leaned down and spoke in Anton’s ear.

Hannah watched his face go white. He stood.

“We have to leave. Now,” he said.

She glanced around, not seeing anything that hinted at danger. “Why?”

He picked up her jacket and held it out for her. She shook her head but slipped into it. On top of being confused and afraid, now she was getting angry. This was all getting ridiculous.

One of the security guards stepped beside her, putting an arm around her as they hurried from the building. The car door was opened and she was sliding in when she heard the first gunshot.

The door closed with her inside, with Anton outside. She tried to open the door or put the window down, but both were locked.

“Anton!” She banged on the window.

“Ma’am,” the driver said. “Please duck down.”

“What?” But she did as he said and crouched between the backseat and front seat. Several more gun shots rang out.

After several heart-stopping minutes, the door opened again and Anton slid in. He pulled her up and the car took off, speeding so fast down the road that the tires squealed when they turned.

Anton was on his phone, talking fast and ordering commands. When he hung up, he looked her over. “You okay?”

She nodded, still in shock. Then she asked, “You okay?”

“Yes. I have a good security team.”

“Was someone… were those shots…”

“Someone tried to kill me.”

She gasped and put her hands to her mouth. “Why!” The tears filled her eyes quickly. “Anton, talk to me, please! What is going on? Why is this happening? What are you involved in?”

She was nearing hysteria, she could feel it. Her voice was high and her words frantic.

He turned to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Are you sure you want to know?”

“No, I’m not. But I need to.”

“Then I’ll tell you. But don’t interrupt me until I’m finished, please.”

“Okay.”

“My grandfather wasn’t just the CEO of DeCalvo Shipping. He was the boss of the DeCalvo family. The DeCalvo mob family.”

Her eyes widened, but she waited to say anything, still listening.

“When he died—or was murdered—everything became my responsibility. I’m the boss now. I call the shots and also take them, apparently.”

He stopped talking, though she expected him to say more.

“So that’s it?” she asked. “You’re a mob boss.”

He nodded.

She laughed. “Good one. What the hell is really going on?”

“Hannah. Someone just tried to kill me because I had his father killed for killing my grandfather. My grandfather was killed for taking out two men who killed one of our family and attacked two others. Should I keep going?”

She gulped and shook her head. Everything was starting to make sense. The secrecy, the money, the security, and now this night. Something came to her then. An article she’d read long ago about mafia activity in the area. The FBI seemed to always be doing some sort of investigation. The organization they were trying to take down—which had to be the DeCalvo family—was known for being the most dangerous and active mafia family they’d ever seen.

“What happens now?” she whispered.

“I don’t know.”

“Are Melody and I in danger?”

“Not if I keep you hidden. That’s why I had to cut off contact. I didn’t want the people after me to come after you.”

“Right.” Hannah nodded, thinking. “Well, that makes sense. You have to stay away from us. I can’t let Melody be in danger. If this is your life… if it’s going to be like this… then you can’t see her.”

She saw his jaw working, but he said nothing.

After a long while, he said, “I know. That’s why I haven’t called or come by. I can’t put you both in danger, so I have to stay out of your lives.”

The realization of this hit her so hard, it was like someone had just pressed pause on her heart. She couldn’t speak. When the car stopped in front of her building, she got out without a word and walked away, a security guard walking her to the door.