Chapter 2 – THE GOLD LOCKET ON THE DINING ROOM FLOOR

The absolute silence in the dining room felt suffocating.

Thirty guests stared at the woman in the red silk gown.

Luca didn’t move.

His dark eyes were fixed on his fiancée.

“What did you tell my ex-wife?”

Vanessa pressed a manicured hand to her chest.

“Luca, children misunderstand things. Sophie is just tired. She didn’t hear me correctly.”

Sophie gripped my apron.

“I did hear you.”

The little girl’s voice was small, but it didn’t shake.

“You told Mommy on the phone that once you were my new mother, she wouldn’t have custody anymore. You said the papers were already signed.”

Luca’s head snapped back to Vanessa.

“Papers?”

Vanessa’s face drained of color.

“It was a joke! A terrible joke, completely taken out of context.”

She looked around the room, desperate for an ally.

Nobody met her eyes.

Luca slowly unbuttoned his suit jacket.

The gesture was quiet.

Calculated.

And utterly terrifying.

It was the movement of a man who commanded the Chicago underworld, preparing to dismantle an enemy.

“Everyone,” Luca said quietly, without looking away from Vanessa. “The dinner is over. Please leave.”

Chairs scraped immediately.

Wealthy men and women didn’t need to be told twice when Luca Moretti’s tone dropped to that dangerous, soft register.

Within two minutes, the dining room was empty.

Only Luca, Sophie, Vanessa, and I remained.

I stood frozen against the wall, keeping myself between Sophie and the woman who had just terrorized her.

“Rachel,” Luca commanded.

“Yes, Mr. Moretti?”

“Take Sophie to the kitchen. Have the chef make her whatever she wants. I need to speak with my fiancée.”

Sophie looked up at him.

“Daddy, are you mad at me?”

Luca’s expression instantly softened.

He knelt down, pressing a kiss to her bare forehead just beneath the pink scarf.

“Never, baby. You did exactly the right thing by telling me the truth. Go with Miss Rachel.”

I took Sophie’s small hand.

As we walked toward the heavy oak doors leading to the kitchen, I heard Vanessa begin to sob.

“Luca, please! I only did it because Caroline is weak! She coddles her, she reminds her she’s sick! I want to give you a strong family!”

“You’re leaving,” Luca’s voice was like ice.

I paused just inside the doorway, pulling Sophie out of sight, but I couldn’t stop myself from watching through the crack in the hinges.

Vanessa stared at him.

“What?”

“The engagement is over. The wedding is canceled. You have ten minutes to pack your bags and get out of my house.”

Vanessa’s tears stopped instantly.

A vicious, ugly panic replaced them.

“You can’t do this! I gave up my apartment! My family’s creditors are waiting for this marriage!”

“That sounds like your problem,” Luca said. “Marco!”

The head of security stepped into the dining room from the hallway.

Broad shoulders. Dark suit. Cold eyes.

“Yes, Boss?”

“Escort Miss Bellini upstairs. Ensure she takes only what belongs to her.”

Vanessa screamed.

She lunged toward the table, blindly grabbing her expensive designer purse.

As she yanked it up, the clasp broke open.

Makeup, credit cards, and keys spilled across the polished hardwood floor.

And something else.

A heavy, vintage gold locket clattered loudly against the wood, sliding directly to the toe of Luca’s polished shoe.

Luca looked down.

He went completely still.

Slowly, he reached down and picked it up.

His thumb brushed over the intricate engraving of a rose on the gold casing.

Vanessa stopped breathing.

“Where did you get this?” Luca whispered.

Vanessa swallowed hard.

“Caroline gave it to me. As a peace offering.”

Luca’s eyes darkened.

“Caroline hasn’t taken this locket off her neck since the day her grandmother died.”

He opened the clasp.

He stared at the tiny photograph inside for a long time.

Then, his gaze flicked directly toward the kitchen doors.

He wasn’t looking at Vanessa anymore.

He was looking right at me.

“Rachel. Why is your mother’s photograph inside my ex-wife’s locket?”

Share