***


June 20th, 2020—Poisonous.

I shouldn’t be this deep into enemy territory. It’s not the bug—it’s Nicolo. He notices everything. I keep my hands moving, cleaning while he talks business with his Consigliere Angelo, on the couches across the room.

“Are you sure he should go on a ride, Boss?” Piero sighs as the Don leans forward in his seat, his head resting on his fist in thought. “It doesn’t sound like you.”

“He is a stool pigeon and a piece of work,” Angelo glances at me as I work to dust the bookshelves. “Not in front of Legits—we risk word getting out.”

I feign ignorance—I’m just the maid, after all, and dust without pause. My mask won’t slip. The air shifts behind me. His scent—sharp and expensive—catches me off guard.

“I do not know your purpose here, but I will find out.” He mumbles into my ear, his deep voice sending gooseflesh along my skin. “And I will see where that tattoo ends, Lili Orlando.”

His calloused finger strokes against the nape of my neck, before he walks away. My fingers twitch. Ending the mission early sounds appealing.

“I’m sure she knows more than she lets on, though.” His emerald eyes narrow—I feel it down my spine. “Why were you permitted to come here if you’re so good at your job?”

“Don Romano,” I turn before bowing respectfully in his direction. “Her Boss wanted to judge if you were a good match before offering her hand. Who better to determine your character for her than her former personal maid?” My head tilts innocently. “I also need the job, my grandfather’s ill.”

He's searching for the missing children. I want to believe in the man I’ve come to observe. But if he is leaking information to the outside world, then he will become a target. My target.

“And you are to determine this compatibility between your former mistress and I?”

“If my Boss so deems it, yes,” I give another bow. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to prepare your meal.” The perfect excuse, as a knock lands on the door, proof lunchtime is present, and I walk over to it. “You’re right on time.” I open the door as I say the words.

I accept the cart from an innocent–looking maid, but something in her strained expression gives me pause, and my instincts flare to life. I know how this world works, how to avoid drawing suspicion. It can be fun sometimes to change the subject and confuse someone.

Behind me, Nicolo grumbles. But I catch it—the flash of a vial, the flick of her wrist. Poison. I fake a spill, kneel with a towel—messy, but deliberate. Clumsy buys cover. The maid who brought the food clicks her tongue, but I keep going.

“Ah, I’m so sorry! My Don, it was an accident.” I bow, flustered. “I will go with the maid to prepare you another.” I fix the dirty dishes back on the cart, before leading her into the hallway.

Nicolo’s eyes narrow, but he turns back to Angelo without even trying to hide his suspicion. I don’t hesitate. Why am I risking my cover to save him? Once we’re out of earshot, my hand shoots out, yanking the maid behind a nearby column, and slamming her hard into the wall.

She flails—no match for me. The vial is in her pocket. No one kills him but me. This isn’t just a leak. My nose curls as I stare at her. She’ll answer to the Accardi for this.

“Mind explaining this?” When I hold it up to her face, the fight leaves her, and her head falls. “Or should I turn you in?” Her face pales at the mention of being turned in. “I know what to do with you.” She knows more about the Romano than she should.

“AH! D–don’t d–do that! Mr. Romano isn’t above leaving marks!” the maid struggles, a horrified look in her blue eyes. “One superior ordered it! I–I don’t know who—but they want Mr. Romano gone!” The color drains from her face when my expression doesn’t change. “M-my brother is sick, mother elderly. I need money for them!”

I text Marcello, rubbing my hair in frustration before glaring at her. I have a gut-wrenching feeling she knows more than she lets on, so I’m going to have my people get the answers we need. Approaching footsteps go barely noticed as I glare at her.

“You picked a horrible day to do this. Is that all?” She nods, her gaze turning pleading. “Tell the Butler you quit. If I ever see you here again, I’ll handle it myself. Wait outside. My people will find you.”

Her face falls. I release her. My eyes trail after her form as she runs away, then I adjust the cart and glance around—no one in earshot, but I sense him. I feel the weight of his gaze—heat wrapped in suspicion. I tremble as I grab the cart handles.

“Superiors often hold an air of authority, eh, Lili?” I startle a centimeter, before calmly looking over my shoulder to lock eyes with Nicolo, then feign innocence. “You seem to know what it takes to get answers in this world.”

“Mr. Romano? Whatever are you talking about?” I bow respectfully, returning to maid mode. “I merely gave her a little touch. Her uniform wasn’t in its proper place.”

“You know more than you let on. And the real you? I’d like to see more of her.” Nicolo leans closer. “So keep showing me more. I’ll watch. And wait. You’ll come to me eventually.”

“I’ll take this back, Mr. Romano.” I bite my cheek. “You should wash your hands, sir.” And I can’t let him. “Here.” I pass him a napkin—his fingertips already stained from trying to clean the mess I made. “I would be remiss in not making sure you look your best.”

His words still echo as I find myself in the kitchen. I lean against the kitchen door, hand over my heart. That look in his eyes? It rips straight through the mask.

My blood cools as the head cook prepares another meal and places it on a new cart. I turn back to his office. As I lift my hand to knock, the door opens.

An older man with a grim expression. A face I recognize. Giuseppe. A rat who should’ve been dead years ago. What the hell is he doing here? My knuckles whiten on the cart, jaw tight as I push it into the room.

“Your servants should have more respect.” I bite my tongue to prevent my reply, and let him continue. “Late with lunch? Typical woman. Should’ve been at home—useless without a man.”

“Giuseppe, old friend, don’t mind the maid. She’s new here. May have gotten lost!” I thank Piero politely, to which Piero smiles and ushers me towards the Don, along with the older man. “Boss, Lili is back with our lunch.”

“I see. Lili, will you prepare my plate?” I don’t reply, only bow, though I can hear the smile in his voice. “Please pick what you think I would like.”

“Why is the civilian remaining?” The old man sneers. “Never mind. I already handled my business, so I must go. I’ll join your lunch another time.”

“But we never got to talk, so what was your business about?” Angelo wonders, with a tilt to his head. “Could it be our maid here?” Then he leans back in his seat. “No, you mentioned someone from some independent nation, Arnie, was it? Wanted a meeting with the Don.”

Arnie. That name… I’ve heard it before—in the report on those missing Mafia children. I keep my head down. Interesting. What connection does Giuseppe the slimeball have with Arnie? A gnawing feeling curls into my stomach.

“Ah, right. That.” Nicolo’s cold tone washes over the room like the chilliest of winter days. “How would working with that… country… benefit my family in any way?” The atmosphere thickens as Angelo shifts to stand next to me, but I remain as I am, unfazed. “Or will speaking in front of a simple maid from the Cardi Family halt you?”

The silence stretches on. After several minutes of tension, I glance at him before looking down to continue his platemaking. I serve his meal, ensuring nothing is off. His stare burns into my neck, but I refuse to look at him fully in the presence of their guest.

“She claims to come from the Cardi family.” Nicolo wonders with narrowed eyes. “They’re downsizing, so she was sent here.”

“Lili’s harmless.” Piero nods, looks at Giuseppe, then shakes his head. “In any case, The Romanos have enough on their plate. We don’t have time to meet with an independent nation right now.”

Giuseppe pales, meeting my gaze. I give a slight nod—play along or suffer. My lips thin as he swallows then he bows towards Don Romano. The exchange happens so quickly, no one notices. Except Nicolo whose eyes are on me, a smirk on his face. When I raise an eyebrow, confusion flickers in his gaze. The recordings will tell me. One week.

“The Cardi are to be avoided, Don Romano. And I recommend you not take them lightly.” Giuseppe’s tone deepens and warns of danger. “And if they’ve sent one of theirs here, even if it’s a lowly maid, I strongly recommend caution.”

Marcello will track Giuseppe. When Giuseppe looks at me again as I prepare Angelo’s and Piero’s plates. He quickly grabs his coat, sweat shining on his temple. Then his voice breaks.

“Another time, Romano. I have to go, it’s dangerous for me to linger…” Giuseppe makes for the door with rushed footsteps, his hand shaking as he grabs the doorknob, now avoiding my gaze. “Forget about Arnie.”

Arnie? As I finish preparing the plates, my mind races with questions. Arnie… from an independent nation—the same name that surfaced during the international kidnapping case. We found the children too early to trace the full connection.

I glance at the papers on Nicolo’s desk as I set down his plate, the scent of steak drifting to my nose. If this Arnie is targeting children from Mafia families, it would explain why Giuseppe seems nervous around me. No more children will disappear. Not on my watch.

“I find myself growing ever curious, Ms. Lili,” Nicolo’s voice is a devilish tone of husky and low as his breath brushes my nape. “Just what is it you’re hiding? You’re so very… intriguing.”

He winks, then returns to his reports. I take a deep breath, then my heart drops at the newest message on my phone screen.

“About the count. One more little one has gone missing from stunning Valleza since your start. All agents are to hold position. Completion: immediate.” That’s new. That’s alarming. “Stay safe. Put yourselves first.”

Limited communication, and all in field agents have to remain in position for an undisclosed amount of time. I quickly tuck my phone away, tucking it beneath my uniform. One more child. Since I arrived. I’m the only one on the inside who knows. And I’m running out of time.