Chapter 1 – The Girl In The Pantry

Luca didn’t say a word. He simply turned his back on his fiancée, his thirty-two wealthy guests, and the lavish engagement dinner, and walked directly toward the kitchen doors.

Vanessa scrambled after him, her satin gown rustling. “Luca, stop! You cannot leave our engagement party to indulge a senile old man and a disgruntled waitress!”

He ignored her, pushing through the heavy oak doors.

I followed closely behind, terrified for Emma but unwilling to leave Walter alone at the table. The old man leaned heavily on his cane, trailing behind us.

When we entered the massive industrial kitchen, the catering staff froze. But Luca marched straight to the small pantry in the back. He opened the door.

Sitting on a crate of potatoes, shivering in an oversized grey sweater, was a young woman. She had Walter’s kind eyes and Daniel’s dark hair. Her waitress uniform was crumpled on the floor next to her.

She looked up, her eyes red from crying. When she saw Luca, she flinched.

Luca’s broad shoulders dropped. The fearsome mafia boss looked completely shattered.

“Emma,” he whispered.

She stood up, wrapping her arms around herself. “Mr. Moretti.”

“You used to call me Uncle Luca,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Emma looked down at the floor. “Vanessa told me I lost that right when my father stole from you.”

Luca whipped his head around to glare at Vanessa, who had just entered the kitchen. “Daniel never stole a dime in his life. He was the most honorable man I ever knew.”

“She’s lying, Luca!” Vanessa said, her voice shrill. “She’s a gold digger, just like her grandfather.”

“Vanessa,” Luca said, his voice dangerously low. “If you speak again, the wedding is off.”

Vanessa’s mouth snapped shut.

Luca turned back to Emma, stepping closer but keeping a respectful distance. “Your grandfather said you found a letter. A letter Daniel wrote the night before he died.”

Emma nodded, her lip trembling. “I found it three days ago. It was hidden inside the lining of my father’s old winter coat. The one they gave back to us from the hospital.”

“Where is it?” Luca asked, his eyes desperate. “Emma, I need to read it.”

Tears spilled down Emma’s cheeks. “I brought it tonight. I kept it in my apron pocket. I was going to give it to you when I served your table.”

“And?”

“And Vanessa demanded I take off my uniform and leave,” Emma cried. “When I went to get my apron from the staff locker room just now… the letter was gone.”

Luca froze.

Vanessa let out a relieved breath, crossing her arms. “How convenient. A magical letter that suddenly disappears. Luca, she’s playing you.”

But my heart hammered against my ribs. I looked at Emma’s apron lying on the floor.

I stepped forward. “Mr. Moretti?”

Luca looked at me. “What is it, Emily?”

“Twenty minutes ago,” I said, my voice shaking. “I saw Vanessa’s personal bodyguard, Marco, coming out of the staff locker room. He was holding a folded piece of yellowed paper.”

Vanessa’s face lost all its color.

But it was Emma who delivered the final blow. She reached into her sweater pocket and pulled out a heavy, tarnished silver pocket watch.

“Marco didn’t take everything,” Emma whispered. “He didn’t check the inside pocket of the apron. My dad wrapped the letter around this watch.”

Luca stared at the watch. His face went entirely pale.

“That watch,” Luca breathed, taking a step back. “I buried that watch with my father.”

Share