Chapter 3

"Stop!" I rushed over and separated Raymond from the other boy.

I examined Raymond carefully. "Are you hurt?"

Raymond shook his head. "No."

Relieved that he was unharmed, I asked, "Why were you fighting?"

Before Raymond could answer, the little boy who had fought with my son shouted first, "He deserved it! He tried to take my stuff!"

"That badge belongs to me." Raymond was still young, but the natural authority of a mafia heir was already beginning to show.

The little boy snorted. "So what if it's yours? If I want it, it's mine. Give it to me right now, or I'll make my dad hang you up and beat you!"

"Just try it." Raymond took a fearless step forward.

Frightened by Raymond, the little boy suddenly sat down on the floor and burst into tears. The situation immediately spiraled out of control.

Just then, a woman rushed out of the crowd. "Who's bullying my son?"

I firmly positioned myself in front of Raymond and said to her, "No one is bullying your son. He was the one who tried to steal my son's badge..."

Slap!

Before I could finish, the woman suddenly raised her hand and slapped me hard across the face.

"Who gave you the nerve to touch my son? Let me tell you something. Whatever my son wants is his. Now give him the badge, then get on your knees and apologize!"

A ringing filled my ears as a burning pain spread across my cheek. I swallowed the metallic taste of blood in my mouth and quickly shielded my son behind me.

"How dare you hit my mom! My dad won't let you get away with this!" Raymond clutched the badge tightly in his hand, glaring furiously at the woman before him.

The woman sneered. "You little brat. Your dad is nothing! Someone, take the badge from his hands!"

"Back off! Nobody touches my son!" I shouted sharply, trying to make them retreat.

But in the next second, two burly men seized my arms, one on each side.

The woman gave a mocking laugh. "Do you have any idea what happens to people who cross me? Someone, beat her! Keep going until she begs for mercy!"

I tried to break free, but the two men were far too strong.

Before long, I was curled up on the floor as a barrage of fists and kicks rained down on me.

Someone delivered a vicious kick to my abdomen. The tearing pain was so severe that it felt as though my body had been snapped in half. I finally couldn't hold back a scream.

Crying, Raymond rushed forward, trying to stop them. "Stop! Stop it! Don't hurt my mom!"

But the men were already worked up into a frenzy. They flung him away with a single motion.

At the same time, the badge fell from his hand and hit the floor.

Someone in the crowd gasped. "Oh, my God! Why does the emblem on that badge look so much like the Capello family's crest? Could these two really be the Don's wife and son?"

Boom!

It was as if someone had pressed the mute button on the entire hall. Even the people beating me stopped, suddenly afraid to make another move.

The woman's face instantly turned deathly pale. She stood there, stunned and terrified.

Anna walked over and linked her arm through the woman's. "Harriet, this is my husband's ex-wife and her son. I don't know where they stole that Capello family badge, but they must have used it to sneak in. Please don't hold it against them."

Anna's words immediately put Harriet Smith at ease. She looked at Luca, her arrogance returning. "So she's Luca's ex-wife. She stole a Capello family badge and claims to be the family's Donna. What do you think will happen to you if the Don hears about this?"

Luca's legs went weak. He nearly fell to his knees.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead repeatedly, he bowed and scraped before Harriet. "Please, Harriet, you have to keep this secret for me."

"All right." She jerked her chin toward me and gestured to Luca. "Then teach her a lesson right now. If I'm satisfied, not only will I keep this secret, I'll also have my husband put in a good word for you with the Don."

"Really?" Luca's eyes lit up instantly.

Harriet nodded. "Of course. You know my husband is the executive in charge of this base and one of the Don's most trusted aides. With his recommendation, you might be the next one promoted."

Without a moment's hesitation, Luca agreed. "Of course! I'll teach this insolent witch a lesson right now!"