“STOP DESCRIBING THE ROOM TO HER! SHE’S BLIND, CLAIRE—SHE DOESN’T NEED TO KNOW WHO’S HERE!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 27-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING HIS 82-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER AT THEIR ENGAGEMENT DINNER—BUT WHEN SERENA INTRODUCED HER UNCLE, THE OLD WOMAN CRUSHED MY HAND. “ROMAN…
Chapter 1 – The Silver Locket
“We were told to leave one witness alive—so that someday, she could lead Serena back to you.”
The stranger’s words hung in the dining room like a guillotine blade waiti…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME HELP A 53-YEAR-OLD WOMAN PICK UP THE PHOTOGRAPHS HIS FIANCÉE HAD THROWN ACROSS THE DINING ROOM FLOOR—THEN SHE SAID, “SHE’S JUST A BITTER DIVORCED WOMAN TRYING TO RUIN OUR ENGAGEMENT,”
Chapter 1 – THE SIGNATURE ON THE FINAL PAGE
Vincent stared at the woman in the red silk gown.
“You promised him my money, Serena?”
The dining room was so quiet I could hear the hum of the chandelie…
“TAKE THAT WOMAN BACK TO THE KITCHEN, GRACE! SHE DOESN’T BELONG AT THIS TABLE!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 27-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING AN ELDERLY CATERING WORKER SIT DOWN AT THEIR ENGAGEMENT DINNER—BUT WHEN THE WOMAN QUIETLY CALLED HIS FIANCÉE BY HER CHILDHOOD NICKNAME, ADRIAN BELLUCCI PUT DOWN HIS GLASS
Chapter 1 – THE NAVY COAT AND THE MISSING BRACELET
The heavy silence of the dining room hung in the air as Adrian turned and walked toward the grand staircase.
I followed closely behind him, my hear…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME SLIP A DINNER PLATE TO HIS 71-YEAR-OLD FAMILY COOK DURING HIS ENGAGEMENT PARTY—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE CAN EAT WHATEVER THE STAFF LEAVE BEHIND,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE WOMAN WHO’D RAISED HIM WAS CRYING IN THE KITCHEN.
Chapter 1 – The Cook Who Raised The Boss
“Don’t take that plate out there, Sophie.”
I stopped beside the kitchen doorway.
Mrs. Rosa Alvarez was sitting on a wooden stool, holding a dish towel in he…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME WRAP MY OWN COAT AROUND HIS 78-YEAR-OLD GODMOTHER AT HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE SHOWED UP UNINVITED,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE WOMAN WAS SOAKED FROM HEAD TO TOE
Chapter 1 – THE LIES WE SWALLOW
Marco did not yell.
He didn’t throw his glass or overturn the table.
He simply stared at the woman he had planned to marry.
“You visited my brother in prison,” Marc…
“HE’S STEALING FOOD FROM OUR GUESTS! SEARCH HIS POCKETS!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE SCREAMED WHEN SHE CAUGHT AN 82-YEAR-OLD MAN HIDING A SLICE OF WEDDING CAKE IN HIS JACKET—BUT WHEN HIS 27-YEAR-OLD MAID KNELT TO WIPE THE FROSTING FROM HIS TREMBLING HANDS, THE OLD MAN BEGAN CRYING. “PLEASE, SWEETHEART
Chapter 1 – THE OLD MAN’S SECRET
“Open your jacket, Henry. Right now.”
The old man stood trembling beside the dessert table.
His gray suit was too large for his thin shoulders, and one of his shoes…
“STOP MOVING HER HAND! SHE DOESN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT SHE’S POINTING AT!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 28-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING HIS 80-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER COMMUNICATE AFTER A STROKE—BUT WHEN THE OLD WOMAN POINTED AT THE FIANCÉE, THEN HER FINANCIAL ADVISER, AND SPELLED M-A-R-R-I-E-D, MATTEO ROMANO ORDERED THE MUSIC STOPPED
Chapter 1 – THE GODMOTHER IN THE RAIN
“Please, Mrs. D’Angelo. Sit down.”
I pulled a chair away from the dining table.
The elderly woman’s blue dress was damp.
Rainwater dripped from the ends of he…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME WRAP A LINEN NAPKIN AROUND A 56-YEAR-OLD SEAMSTRESS’S BLEEDING HAND AT HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE’S JUST HERE BEGGING FOR MONEY,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE WOMAN WHO MADE HER RED SILK GOWN WAS CRYING BESIDE THE DINING TABLE
Chapter 1 – THE SEAMSTRESS’S BLEEDING HANDS
“Take that napkin away, Claire.”
I froze beside the dining table.
The woman sitting on the little upholstered bench had blood running down two of her fin…
GET HER AWAY FROM THAT PIANO! I WON’T HAVE SOME OLD WOMAN RUINING MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 27-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING A RETIRED MUSIC TEACHER SIT DOWN—BUT WHEN THE WOMAN WHISPERED, “I TAUGHT YOUR DAUGHTER THAT SAME SONG,” ROMAN DELUCA STOPPED BREATHING
Chapter 1 – THE SILVER BRACELET AND THE RAIN
The silence in the dining room was so absolute I could hear the rain lashing against the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Roman stared at Victoria. The elegant,…
GET THAT WOMAN AWAY FROM MY ENGAGEMENT TABLE! I DON’T CARE IF SHE CAN BARELY WALK—SHE DOESN’T BELONG WITH MY FAMILY!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 26-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING A 68-YEAR-OLD WIDOW INTO HER CHAIR—BUT WHEN THE WOMAN SAW THE MAN SITTING BESIDE THE BRIDE, SHE GRABBED
Chapter 1 – The Forged Signature on the Certificate
The silence in the dining room was so absolute I could hear the crystal prisms on the chandeliers clinking together from the air conditioning.
Thi…