Follow further developments here.

Damiano stays down on one knee, his posture unyielding despite the softening in his gaze.

LUCIA

(Squeezing her eyes shut)

Because my mom cries when she looks at your picture in her room. She said you're a good man who forgot how to smile. And... I don't want you to die tomorrow.

A sharp gasp ripples through the crowd. Rafael’s hand instantly moves to his jacket holster.

DAMIANO

(Voice low, dangerous yet tender)

What do you mean, Lucia?

Lucia unfolds the crumpled paper heart in his palm. It isn't a drawing—it's a floor plan of the estate's North Wing, marked with precise red ink routes and a timestamp: 12:00 AM.

LUCIA

(Whispering)

A scary man with a snake tattoo gave Mom medicine for my sickness. He said if she didn't open the basement door at midnight, he would take me away. So I drew this to remember where to hide... but Mom made me promise to run to you instead.

Damiano’s head snaps up toward Elena. She falls to her knees, trembling, her face streaked with tears.

ELENA

(Sobbing)

Don't hurt her, please! Don Donati threatened to kill her... they're coming through the service tunnels at midnight!

[CAMERA PAN: THE BALLROOM CLOCK READS 11:58 PM]

The ambient hum of the room drops into dead silence. Damiano looks down at the little girl holding his hand, then rises to his full height. The softness in his face vanishes, replaced by cold, calculated authority.

DAMIANO

(To Rafael)

Seal the doors. Escort the guests to the vault. Sound the alarm.

RAFAEL

(Nodding sharply)

Understood, Boss.

Damiano stoops down, effortlessly lifting Lucia into his arm and pulling Elena up with his free hand. He looks into the little girl's fearful blue eyes and places the paper heart carefully into his breast pocket, right over his heart.

DAMIANO

You did good, Lucia. You saved my life.

LUCIA

(Sniffling)

Does that mean... you'll come to my school tomorrow?

Damiano smiles—a genuine, dangerous smirk that New York hasn't seen in three years.

DAMIANO

I wouldn't miss it for the world. But first, your new daddy has to clean up his house.

Across the room, the heavy oak doors at the far end of the corridor SLAM open. Shadowy figures fill the hallway.

FADE TO BLACK.