THE LITTLE GIRL ASKED TO SIT WITH A STRANGER—BUT HER MOTHER NEVER EXPECTED THE MAFIA BOSS TO RECOGNIZE HER FACE

Damen for a minute.”

The back garden was quiet in late-autumn light. The grass was crisp at the edges. Yellow leaves drifted from the maple by the fence.

Lily darted ahead and bent over the lawn.

“Mom, look. That one is so red. I’m going to press it in my book.”

Clara sat on the wooden bench by the back wall.

Damen stood beside her with his hands in his continue reading …