THROW THAT OLD POT AWAY, YOU IGNORANT LITTLE MAID! NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR STUPID FAMILY TRADITIONS!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEKEEPER IN FRONT OF FIFTY DINNER GUEST
Chapter 1 – A STRANGER WITH A DANGEROUS PIECE OF PAPER
“Twenty-three years ago?” Luca’s voice was barely a whisper, but it cut through the dining room like glass.
He didn’t look at his wealthy guest…
TAKE THAT HEARING AID OFF HIM, YOU IGNORANT LITTLE MAID! HE DOESN’T NEED TO HEAR EVERY CONVERSATION AT MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEKEEPER IN FRONT OF FIFTY GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE MAID REFUSED TO TOUCH HIS TEN-YEAR-OLD SON’S EAR, LUCA MORETTI ASKED THE ITALIAN
Chapter 1 – THE WATCH IN HIS POCKET
“The one where Uncle Michael told everyone he couldn’t remember the accident.”
Nicholas’s small voice echoed through the massive dining room.
Fifty guests sat fr…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME PULL A BROKEN WOODEN BRIDGE FROM HIS ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER’S HANDS DURING HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE SMASHED IT BECAUSE SHE LOST,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE LITTLE GIRL WAS BLEEDING FROM ONE FINGER, CRYING OVER THE BROKEN PIECES, AND WHISPERING
Chapter 1 – The Truth About The Grandfather
“Vanessa… what did you tell my father about the granddaughter who spent four months building that bridge with him?”
Luca’s voice didn’t rise.
It didn’t…
TAKE THAT BABY SWEATER AWAY FROM HER! THERE IS NO CHILD COMING TO THIS HOUSE, AND I’M TIRED OF YOUR MAID ENCOURAGING HER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEKEEPER IN FRONT OF FORTY DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER GRABBED THE MAID’S HAND AND WHISPERED, “SHE TOLD ME MY GRANDCHILD WASN’T WELCOME,” LUCA MORETTI SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 1 – WHERE DID YOU SEND MY SISTER?
“Vanessa, where did you send my sister and her newborn daughter?”
Luca’s voice didn’t rise. It didn’t need to. The sheer quiet of his tone made the forty gu…
TAKE THAT LITTLE GIRL’S COAT AND PUT HER WITH THE SERVANTS, YOU IGNORANT LITTLE MAID! SHE ISN’T A MORETTI!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED H
Chapter 1 – THE SILVER LOCKET’S SECRET
Luca stared at Grace Bennett, the silence in the dining room growing so heavy I could hear the grandfather clock ticking in the hallway.
“What did you say?” Lu…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME PULL A CRUSHED YELLOW ROSE FROM HIS TEN-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER’S TREMBLING HAND DURING HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE DESTROYED MY FLOWERS BECAUSE SHE’S JEALOUS,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE LITTLE GIRL WAS COVERED IN DIRT, HER WHITE PARTY DRESS WAS RUINED
Chapter 1 – WHAT WAS HIDDEN IN THE DIRT
The dining room was so quiet I could hear the rain hitting the glass.
Luca stared at Thomas Reed.
His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
“What did she sa…
LET HER CARRY IT! SHE’S NOT HELPLESS, AND I’M NOT PAYING YOUR MAID TO BABY AN OLD WOMAN!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEKEEPER FOR TRYING TO TAKE A HEAVY SILVER COFFEE POT FROM HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER—BUT WHEN TERESA MORETTI GRABBED THE MAID’S HAND AND WHISPERED,
Chapter 1 – THE SIGNATURE SHE NEVER GAVE
“Thirty days of isolation, Vanessa.”
Luca’s voice was barely a whisper, but it echoed like a gunshot in the silent dining room.
Vanessa’s hands gripped the …
“PUT THAT PEN DOWN! HE DOESN’T EVEN REMEMBER HIS OWN SON!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 48-YEAR-OLD NURSE FOR HELPING HIS ELDERLY FATHER SIGN THE FAMILY GUESTBOOK—BUT WHEN THE OLD MAN SCRATCHED THREE WORDS ACROSS THE PAGE, DOMINIC ROMANO STOPPED THE MUSIC. “CELESTE… WHAT IS IN THE BLUE BOTTLE?”
Chapter 1 – THE WATCH IN THE SHADOWS
The man on the balcony stepped forward, his face illuminated by the grand crystal chandelier.
Gasps rippled through the dining room.
He had Vincent Romano’s dar…
TAKE THAT LITTLE GIRL AND GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! I WON’T HAVE A SERVANT’S CHILD BEGGING AT MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE SCREAMED, SNATCHING A SMALL WHITE FLOWER FROM MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER’S HAND. BUT WHEN THE 34-YEAR-OLD MAFIA BOSS WALKED IN AND HEARD MY DAUGHTER SAY
Chapter 1 – THE MAN AT THE END OF THE TABLE
Gabriel’s eyes locked onto the man sitting at the far end of the long mahogany table.
Marcus Vance.
For three years, Marcus had been Gabriel’s most trust…
“TAKE YOUR HAND OFF MY RING! YOU’RE CONFUSED AGAIN!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER FOR CLAIMING THE DIAMOND ON HER FINGER—BUT WHEN THE 26-YEAR-OLD HOUSEKEEPER WHISPERED, “THE INITIALS INSIDE ARE YOUR GRANDMOTHER’S,” MATTEO RUSSO SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 1 – The Photograph In The Envelope
Matteo stared at the sealed envelope in his hand.
His father’s handwriting was unmistakable. Bold. Sharp. Unforgiving.
Lauren’s face lost the last trace o…