The Mafia King’s Deadly Obsession

# CHAPTER 1 — THE MAN AT THE FUNERAL The first gunshot came before her father's coffin touched the ground. Amara Bennett froze. A second shot cracked through the cemetery. People screamed. Someone grabbed her arm. “Run!” She didn't. Her eyes remained fixed on the polished black coffin being lowered into the earth. Her father was dead. And now someone was shooting at his funeral. A third bullet tore through the marble angel beside her. Amara finally moved. She dropped behind a stone tombstone as security guards drew their weapons. “Get her out of here!” “Where's the shooter?” “North gate!” Chaos erupted. Amara's heart hammered against her ribs. Her father had been buried less than thirty seconds ago. Who would be insane enough to attack a funeral? Then she saw him. Across the cemetery. A man stood completely still while everyone around him ran. Black suit. Black shirt. No tie. One hand casually tucked into his pocket. He wasn't hiding. He wasn't afraid. He was watching her. Amara couldn't see his face clearly beneath the dark glasses, but something about him made the air leave her lungs. He slowly removed his glasses. Their eyes met. Cold gray eyes. Her father's killer? Amara reached for the gun hidden beneath her coat. The stranger smiled. Not warmly. Almost as if he'd been expecting her to do exactly that. Then his phone rang. He answered. “Yes.” He listened for several seconds. “Not yet.” His gaze never left Amara. “She hasn't found it.” Amara's stomach dropped. Found what? The stranger ended the call. Then he walked toward her. One of the security guards stepped between them. “Sir, you need to leave.” The stranger didn't even look at him. “Move.” The guard raised his weapon. The stranger sighed. A single gunshot sounded. The guard collapsed. Amara screamed. The man finally looked directly at her. “Your father left you something.” Amara's fingers tightened around her gun. “Who are you?” He stopped only a few feet away. “Luca Moretti.” The name hit her like a slap. Everyone knew Luca Moretti. Mafia king. Businessman. Murderer. The man police couldn't touch. The man her father had warned her about. Luca tilted his head. “Give me what your father hid.” “I don't know what you're talking about.” “That's unfortunate.” He stepped closer. “Because by midnight, three different families will be hunting you for it.” Amara's blood ran cold. “What did my father hide?” For the first time, Luca's expression changed. Something almost resembling concern crossed his face. “Your death warrant.” Then another explosion rocked the cemetery. Luca grabbed Amara and pulled her against his chest. She expected violence. Instead, his arms tightened around her protectively. And somewhere beyond the cemetery walls, dozens of gunmen opened fire. Luca looked down at her. “Stay close to me.” “Why?” His eyes darkened. “Because they're not here for me.” “They're here for you.”