My mafia boss husband’s mistress had destroyed my marriage. My pregnant sister had threatened my son. And now, in the darkness of our mansion, a woman was telling me that my mother was still alive.
Chapter 1 – THE MAN WHO NEVER LEFT
I stared at the photograph in my mother’s trembling hands.
My father.
The man who had supposedly walked out on us twenty years ago, leaving my mother to work thre…
“HE’S JUST AN OLD DRIVER! MAKE HIM EAT WITH THE SERVANTS, OR YOU CAN BOTH GET OUT!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 29-YEAR-OLD MAID IN FRONT OF SIXTY DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE 74-YEAR-OLD MAN REMOVED HIS WORN CAP AND PLACED A FADED WEDDING RING BESIDE THE BOSS’S PLATE, VINCENT SALVATORE STOOD UP AND WHISPERED, “WHERE DID YOU GET THAT?”
Chapter 1 – THE JUDGE AT THE TABLE
Vincent Salvatore did not blink.
He did not breathe.
He stared at the handwritten letter from his dead father, the heavy red wax crumbling between his tightening …
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME CUT A PLASTIC ZIP TIE FROM HIS SEVENTY-YEAR-OLD HOUSEKEEPER’S WRISTS DURING HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE WAS CAUGHT STEALING MY DIAMONDS,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE WOMAN WHO HAD RAISED HIM WAS CRYING IN FRONT OF TWENTY-FOUR GUESTS.
Chapter 1 – THE SILVER BABY RATTLE
The dining room descended into a suffocating, icy silence.
Twenty-four wealthy guests stared at the elderly man standing in the doorway.
Salvatore Bellini.
Head …
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME CATCH HIS SEVEN-MONTHS-PREGNANT SISTER AS SHE COLLAPSED DURING HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE HAD TOO MUCH CHAMPAGNE,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE WOMAN HAD BEEN BEGGING ME TO CALL AN AMBULANCE.
Chapter 1 – THE SCENT OF PEPPERMINT AND LIES
The dining room felt as though all the air had been sucked out of it.
Luca didn’t move.
His dark eyes were fixed on his sister, but the dangerous silenc…
My mafia boss husband finally admitted why he married me seventeen years ago.
Chapter 1 – The Grave Vincent Dug For Me
“He asked you to help him bury me?”
The words echoed off the vaulted stone ceiling of the chapel. I looked at the man I had slept next to for seventeen years…
GET ON YOUR KNEES AND PICK UP EVERY PEARL! THAT’S WHERE A MAID BELONGS!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 30-YEAR-OLD HOUSEKEEPER IN FRONT OF SEVENTY WEDDING GUESTS—BUT WHEN A 58-YEAR-OLD SEAMSTRESS KNELT BESIDE HER AND WHISPERED, “I WAS ONLY FIFTEEN,” DAMIAN VITELLI STOPPED THE WEDDING REHEARSAL.
Chapter 1 – THE SILVER CROSS IN THE SILENCE
The heavy silver serving tray lay on the marble floor, its polished surface reflecting the crystal chandeliers.
But nobody looked at the tray.
Every eye …
GET THAT DIRTY WAITRESS OUT OF MY WEDDING! AND IF YOU LET HER TOUCH MY DRESS, YOU’RE FIRED!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 31-YEAR-OLD MAID IN FRONT OF SEVENTY GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE 63-YEAR-OLD WOMAN SET A HOMEMADE WEDDING CAKE ON THE TABLE AND WHISPERED, “I JUST WANTED TO SEE MY DAUGHTER IN WHITE,” SEBASTIAN ROMANO SLOWLY REMOVED HIS ENGAGEMENT RING.*
Chapter 1 – THE GUEST IN THE FADED GREEN COAT
“Did you seriously bring a woman dressed like that into my wedding rehearsal?”
Vivienne Ashcroft stood at the top of the marble staircase, staring down …
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME CARRY A SOAKED ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD BOY INTO HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “HE’S JUST THE DELIVERY DRIVER’S SON,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE CHILD WAS CLUTCHING A BLOODSTAINED WATCH WITH THE MORETTI FAMILY CREST.
Chapter 1 – THE WINTER COAT IN THE BLACK VAN
“I’ve been waiting twenty-nine years for you to find out why our father wanted me gone.”
Adrian Vale’s voice echoed through the dining room.
He didn’t s…
“TAKE THAT OLD WOMAN OUT OF MY HOUSE! HER DAUGHTER IS DEAD, AND SHE HAS NO RIGHT TO RUIN MY WEDDING!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 28-YEAR-OLD MAID IN FRONT OF FIFTY GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE 69-YEAR-OLD WIDOW RECOGNIZED THREE BLUE STITCHES ON THE BRIDE’S WEDDING DRESS AND WHISPERED, “I MADE THAT FOR MY DAUGHTER,” GABRIEL RUSSO STOOD UP.
Chapter 1 – The Missing Brass Key
“Because Caroline’s father didn’t die in the accident we told everyone about.”
The words seemed to pull all the oxygen out of the cedar-scented room. I stood frozen…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME PULL HIS NINE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER’S SHOES OUT OF THE TRASH DURING HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE THREW THEM AWAY HERSELF,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE LITTLE GIRL WAS HIDING BAREFOOT BENEATH THE STAIRCASE. “Put those back, Sophie.”
Chapter 1 – THE GIRL WHO HID BENEATH THE STAIRS
“Put those back, Sophie.”
I froze beside the kitchen trash bin.
In my hands was a pair of small white shoes.
One had a pink ribbon sewn near the hee…