TAKE YOUR LITTLE GIRL AND GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT A MAID!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE SCREAMED, FORCING MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER TO GIVE UP HER CHAIR IN FRONT OF THIRTY DINNER GUESTS. I WAS CARRYING MY CRYING CHILD TOWARD THE DOOR WHEN THE 34-YEAR-OLD
Chapter 1
The dining room descended into a silence so heavy it felt hard to breathe.
Luca didn’t move. He didn’t blink.
He just stared at his mother, Isabella Moretti, who was sitting at the head o…
TURN OFF THAT LIGHT, ELEANOR. HE DOESN’T COME HOME TO YOU ANYMORE.” THE MAFIA BOSS’S MISTRESS SAID IT WHILE HOLDING HIS HAND IN FRONT OF HIS WIFE
Chapter 1 – THE PROMISE HE MADE TO HER
“You promised her what?” I asked again.
My voice didn’t shake.
After thirty years as a mafia wife, you learn how to keep your voice steady when your heart is …
GIVE ME THAT KEY, YOU IGNORANT LITTLE MAID! YOU DON’T EVEN SPEAK ITALIAN!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEKEEPER IN FRONT OF FIFTY DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE MAID REFUSED TO HAND OVER THE KEY TO HIS NINE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER’S BEDROOM
Chapter 1 – THE LOCKED DOOR AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS
“Little Bird.”
Isabella’s voice trembled, but the words echoed in the silent dining room.
Luca Moretti turned to stone. The silver fork in his h…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME CRAWL UNDER HIS ENGAGEMENT TABLE TO FIND HIS TEN-YEAR-OLD SON’S SPEECH TABLET—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “HE THREW IT BECAUSE HE WAS HAVING A TANTRUM,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE LITTLE BOY WAS CRYING AND FRANTICALLY POINTING AT HIS EMPTY HANDS
Chapter 1 – THE WATCH THAT STOPPED TIME
“Vanessa… when did you decide that marrying me gave you the right to take away my son’s voice?”
The silence in the dining room was absolute.
Twenty-eight g…
TAKE THAT PEN AWAY FROM HER! SHE CAN’T EVEN WRITE HER OWN NAME ANYMORE, AND I’M NOT HAVING YOUR MAID MAKE A FOOL OF HER AT MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEKEEPER IN FRONT OF FORTY GUESTS—BUT WHEN HIS ELDERLY MOTHER GRABBED THE MAID’S HAND AND
Chapter 1 – THE NAME ON THE BLUE CARD
“Put the pen down, Hannah.”
Vanessa Bellini stood beside the dining table in a fitted red silk gown, staring at seventy-eight-year-old Teresa Moretti’s tremblin…
TAKE THAT LITTLE GIRL’S MICROPHONE AWAY, YOU IGNORANT LITTLE MAID! SHE HAS NOTHING IMPORTANT TO SAY!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEKEEPER IN FRONT OF FIFTY DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE MAID REFUSED TO SILENCE HIS TEN-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER
Chapter 1 – THE SECRETS OF THE SEALED ROOM
“Has anyone told you why your wife was inside that room the night before her accident?”
Roberto’s voice echoed through the silent banquet hall.
Luca stare…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME REMOVE A BLACK SERVER’S APRON FROM HIS SEVENTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD MOTHER DURING HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE BEGGED TO HELP THE STAFF,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY HIS MOTHER’S HANDS WERE SHAKING, HER DINNER PLATE WAS MISSING,
Chapter 1 – The Truth About the Silver Bracelet
The silence in the dining room was so absolute I could hear the crystal chandeliers softly clinking above us.
Luca didn’t raise his voice.
He didn’t …
TAKE THOSE SHOES OFF HER, YOU IGNORANT LITTLE MAID! SHE’S NOT GOING ANYWHERE!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEKEEPER FOR HELPING HIS ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER STAND UP DURING THEIR ENGAGEMENT DINNER—
Chapter 1 – THE TRUST FUND CONDITION
Grandpa Bellini set down his glass.
“Tell him,” he said quietly. “Because I’m not going to take the blame for what you arranged to happen to his daughter.”
Vane…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME CATCH THE BLUE BIRTHDAY BALLOON HIS NINE-YEAR-OLD SON’S FUTURE STEPMOTHER HAD JUST CUT LOOSE DURING HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “HE LET IT GO TO RUIN THE DECORATIONS,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE LITTLE BOY WAS CRYING AND WHISPERING
Chapter 1 – THE BOARDING SCHOOL BROCHURE IN HER PURSE
“Vanessa… what exactly have you been telling my son will happen to him after Saturday?”
Luca’s voice didn’t rise.
It didn’t need to.
The quiet…
TAKE THAT LITTLE BELL AWAY FROM HER! SHE’S NOT A QUEEN, AND I’M NOT HAVING HER SUMMON SERVANTS THROUGH MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER—BUT WHEN TERESA MORETTI GRABBED
Chapter 1 – THE KEY TO CATHERINE’S LOCKED ROOM
Luca didn’t blink.
He stared at his fiancée, his dark eyes terrifyingly calm.
“Vanessa,” he said softly. “Who is she?”
Vanessa’s hands trembled again…