***
June 5th, 2020—Mission Start.
I wake with a start, the weight of an unsolved case pressing on my chest. Sitting up on the small bed of my Romano Villa flat, I pull out a notepad, then jot down last night's observations. I need to confirm that the hidden passages in the 1920s original blueprints are out of the security range—and unused.
Staff movements will tell me everything I need. I glance at the clock. For three days in a row now, the house has awakened around 5:00 AM, which means the Don will summon me within the hour. I should work fast. Risking exposure is part of the job—but protecting our own makes it worth it.
I quickly mark key areas I believe should take priority in bugging with a blue pen. I continue marking locations—Nicolo's office, the common room, the library. The hairs curl up on my neck as I hear footsteps near my door. Then—a voice.
"I will protect you, Amore Mio." Angelo's voice muffles through the door as I stand and creep to it, straining my ears. "Nothing will happen; I have a plan." He pauses, listening to whomever he's clearly talking to on the phone. "I promise I'll be careful."
Strange that he would have such an early conversation with someone on this side of the Villa. But there is that NDA Don Romano made me sign, which possibly makes Angelo think he's safe. I hear him pacing the hall.
"The Don has shown his type in women once again. Quiet and mysterious, distant yet keeps him on his toes." Angelo's tone turns amused. "She's got him distracted. The others would never approve—he's falling for a lowly maid, just like Amadeo did."
If he's not the snitch and a true second—a true consigliere—his words make sense. Of course he would worry himself over his Boss. Minutes later, I'm summoned. At the knock, I tuck the blueprints away. Even in my private rooms, one can never be too careful. Thankfully, there are plenty of places to hide my gear.
"So lucky." I overhear a brunette maid whisper as I pass. "Escorted by Mr. Angelo? No one's ever been Mr. Romano's personal maid before." I steal a glance at Angelo.
The Villa's U-shape is easy to navigate—especially with the old blueprints. But pretending I'm new keeps me alive. As I follow Angelo Romano towards the Don's office, I note which areas on this floor have secret passages that are out of camera view. The Villa's shape shouldn't allow passageways, yet hidden tunnels defy its footprint.
I flick a bug embedded in sticky goo onto the chandelier's chain as the citrus scent of cleanser fills the common area. Angelo doesn't notice, his eyes going to the backside of a female staff member when she passes us.
One high-priority area down. At least twenty bugs left to place. Jealous maids sneer and whisper, their assumptions about my relationship with the Don loud and ugly—but I stay impassive. Let them talk.
"I'm not sure what my looks have to do with anything, but I am merely here for a job." My polite reply has a blonde staff member scoffing, arms crossing under her chest. "I didn't ask for the position of Mr. Romano's personal maid, and wouldn't have considered it. But Mr. Romano is quite demanding."
Maybe there is some good in him… but even devils pray before they sin. He takes care of his staff, listens to their woes, and considers how best to help with their needs. When we finally arrive at Nicolo's office on the upper floors of the Villa, I find myself taken by his appearance again. Nicolo commands attention.
"I wonder, Lili…" He steps close. "How intricate is that tattoo? Will you show me sometime?" His flirt is as familiar now as it is disarming, but I stay composed.
"Mr. Romano, please maintain a respectful distance." I say coolly. "Flirting with a maid is beneath your station."
Flirtation aside, he runs Valleza's private police—and its criminal underworld. As a result, Valleza, the city on a mountain near the sea, is one of the safest places in Italy, a gem to visit that smells of ocean and trees all at once.
The people here are warm like a summer breeze, possibly feeling safe because of the low crime rates despite their "Chief" being the Don of an organized crime unit.
"You're no fun, sweet Lili." He purrs into my ear, his fingers lifting to trace the collar of my shirt. "Are you always so serious? Don't you ever have fun? Smile? Laugh?" Then he turns back to his desk and sits down, reviewing ongoing investigations across the city. "Angelo, I need you to oversee this case."
Though I keep cleaning, his words seem to echo in my mind as the Don refocuses on his work, and I glance at his paperwork. People are going missing here? Children?! Missing person cases hit close to home.
Angelo takes the file Nicolo offers him and walks out of the room. I move to Piero's desk. When he looks away from his laptop, I plant a bug, hidden by the USB mouse plugged into the side with more sticky goo. Piero doesn't look up. Nicolo's attention stays on the window.
A glance back at the paperwork, though, has me considering the possibility. These missing kids belong to Romano employees. No clear source. My jaw tightens, fingers stilling on the cloth. Rage coils hot beneath my skin.
How many other families are being affected by this? Is it connected? Nicolo stands and walks over to the window, gazing down at the courtyard. His office sits on the third floor, with a perfect view. Fog thins with the rising sun. The investigative report catches my eye again as I clean. Should I share this with the Accardi?
"Curious, Lili?" Nicolo's voice startles me, and I turn to find him still at the window, looking into the courtyard, a stern expression on his handsome face. "Perhaps we need a Legit's opinion." He turns and walks closer, spreading the report out on his desk. The paper rustles. "Four children of varying ages, all taken."
"Are there any connections between the four children? Friendships, familial ties, or even enemies?" My words have Nicolo looking closer at the reports, his eyes narrowing. "Were they taken from the same place or different places at different times? What about genders? Are they little boys or little girls, and ages?"
"Hmm. They're related to some of my employees and allies, all taken at different times, on different days." Nicolo's expression darkens as I see him realizing the same thing I have about the children being Mafia. "And the victims are of different genders and ages, but all are minors. The eldest is 17 years old; the youngest is 2 years old."
My face stays neutral, but inside, something sharp twists. Maybe it's the missing children—or maybe it's because I never knew what happened to my parents.
"Have you plotted their disappearance points on a map?" He marks the map. "A pattern is what you're looking for." The dots form a rough circle. "The disappearances all occur near the same area: the docks."
The docks. My pulse stutters. If they're using boats, the children are already gone—anywhere. Maybe everywhere. Nicolo's hand tightens around the file. He doesn't say a word for a moment—then slams the report down.
"Get a team on the docks. Now. Quietly. If even one of them gets hurt—" A knock sounds on the door before opening as Angelo appears from behind it. "Ah, Angelo. Perfect timing. That investigation into the missing children I put you on? Search around the docks. My new maid pointed out something intriguing."
"You're talking cases with a maid now? Boss, have you lost it? What would she know?" Angelo's demanding tone isn't lost on me, but I say nothing, opting to see how Nicolo handles this. "You should trust me to do my job!"
"I do trust you, Angelo, like a brother. But these children have been missing for weeks, now. Any help is good help, and an outside perspective is often used in police investigations anyways." Nicolo crosses his arms. "In the form of witnesses. What made you think of the geographical points, though, Lili?"
"I watch a lot of true crime shows in my free time." I notice the way Piero glances at me curiously, but he stays quiet. "And my grandfather was a private investigator; he talked a lot of his experience when I was growing up."
Nicolo agrees then sends me on a small break while he discusses some things with Angelo and Piero. Things I'm not meant to hear—as a "civilian" maid. I use the chance to send a message back to my people about the missing children here in Valleza. This case just became a priority.
He's not dumb. But intelligence doesn't prove innocence. I type out a message to my grandfather and Marcello, that's both coded, yet easily decipherable for them, wanting to make sure I'm covering all of my bases.
"Valleza's count is off again—four little ones missed check-in today, and it's not a scheduling slip. Reminds me of that hiccup from two months back when things quietly went sideways. If the inside circle's around, might be good to tidy up the usual trails and send a brief to my line before everything starts warming up for dinner."
"Ah. Valleza's been feeling too quiet lately. Four's not a number we misplace lightly." My grandfather's reply is swift, making my tension ease. "I recall that week—nothing missing but everything out of place. I'll see that the hands retrace the familiar paths and tidy what they find. You'll have it in your corner before the table is laid."
Good. If my grandfather's looking into it, I can be sure to have more information soon. Footsteps. I press to the wall; breath caught in my throat. Sweat dries on my back as I strain my ears to listen.
"You're sure?" I hear Piero's familiar voice nearby; he must be on a phone call. "If I do this for you, you're going to owe me. Big time. I could get ruined if this gets out." A pause. "I'll handle her. Just be ready to move when I say. No screwups this time."
His footsteps approach. A drop of cold sweat trails down my spine. I scan for cover—he's just around the corner when he stops. An inaudible breath parts my lips as I try to slow my heartbeat.
"Fine. I have to find the Boss's new maid." Piero continues on, unaware I'm listening, and I creep closer, silent on the courtyard path. "We'll talk more on those details later."
My name in his mouth right now could be fatal. I've seen men like him sell secrets for far less. My stomach knots. I've seen enough to know I should be cautious. I stay out of sight until he rounds the corner then powerwalk toward a small, ornamental pond and settle on the iron bench hidden by fragrant roses.
"Mr. Romano is looking for you, Ms. Lili. He asked I find you." Piero walks closer, no sign of his phone in sight. "We also need to add your fingerprints to the locks for his office and the third floor, that way you can come and go as you please to care for the Boss's needs."
Back in the Don's office, I watch how Piero interacts with Nicolo. Calm. Friendly. Almost too smooth. His tone is easy. Too easy. Angelo, while more open, glances at his phone often, then nervously around the room as if to check if anyone's looking.
Trusted. High access. The most dangerous kind of liability. Anyone could be the leak. Plugging it prevents the Romano collapse—and worse. I've survived too many betrayals to ignore the signs. They laugh loud. Lie quiet. I've seen it before. So I watch. And I wait.
While wiping down Angelo's desk, over his shoulder I spy a message preview from someone saved as "American Dream." A lover? Or a leash?
"Just a little more, Angelo, and we can be together soon, Amore Mio." Someone's pulling Angelo's strings—and I need to cut them before they tighten.