Chapter 1 - THE BAT The scream came after the glass shattered.

Jackson Bellandi would remember that sound for the rest of his life.

He had been in the middle of a private council meeting when the crash ripped through the mansion—a violent explosion of breaking glass and splintering wood that silenced every man around the long mahogany table.

Then came another sound.

A child crying.

Jackson was already moving before anyone could stop him.

He crossed the corridor at a run and burst into the game room.

The sight froze him.

Four-year-old Leo was curled against the side of the shattered glass game table, both arms covering his head.

Bare feet.

Broken glass everywhere.

And standing over him was Chad.

Jackson's cousin.

His family.

His baseball bat was still in his hand.

For one terrible second, nobody moved.

Then Jackson crossed the room.

"Get away from my son."

Chad lowered the bat.

"Jackson, listen—"

"I said get away from him!"

Chad stepped backward.

Jackson dropped to his knees and pulled Leo into his arms.

The boy clung to his father's neck so tightly that Jackson could feel his heart pounding through his little chest.

"You're okay," Jackson whispered. "Daddy's here."

Leo couldn't answer.

He was shaking too hard.

Jackson carried him out of the room without letting his feet touch the floor.

Behind him, Owen, Jackson's security chief, barked orders.

"Lock this wing down!"

Nobody argued.

Minutes later, the game room had become a sealed crime scene.

Jackson sat in the council room with Leo against his chest while seven powerful men stood silently around him.

"Doctor," Jackson ordered.

"Already coming."

Then Jackson looked at Owen.

"Nobody leaves."

Owen nodded.

Jackson's voice became cold.

"Not until I know why Chad Bellandi was standing over my four-year-old son with a baseball bat."

Leo finally whispered something.

Jackson bent his head.

"Uncle Chad said I saw something."

Jackson's eyes lifted.

"What did you see?"

Leo only shook his head.

Then Jackson noticed the small emergency device still trapped inside his son's fist.

"You pressed it?"

Leo nodded.

"How many times?"

"Two."

Jackson looked at Owen.

"No alert came through."

The room went silent.

The device was designed to send an immediate security alert.

Leo had pressed it.

Twice.

And nobody had come.

For the first time that night, Jackson felt something colder than anger.

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Fear.

Someone had made sure his son would be alone.