THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WALK INTO HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER HOLDING AN EMPTY RED DOG LEASH, HER SLIPPERS SOAKED FROM THE RAIN—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “HE RAN OUT THROUGH THE SIDE GATE,” BEFORE LUCA EVEN ASKED WHERE HIS LATE FATHER’S OLD DOG HAD GONE.
Chapter 2 – THE KEY IN THE WATER BOWL
The crystal chandelier in the grand foyer seemed to dim as the silence stretched across the marble floor.
Guests in the adjacent dining room had stopped pretend…
“ARE YOU SERIOUS? YOU BROUGHT THAT MUDDY ROSE INTO MY ENGAGEMENT PARTY? HANNAH, THROW IT AWAY!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER SAVE A FLOWER FROM THE GARDEN—BUT WHEN TERESA MORETTI WHISPERED, “THEY’RE TEARING OUT THE BUSH YOUR FATHER PLANTED THE DAY YOU WERE BORN,” LUCA OPENED THE PATIO DOORS AND WALKED STRAIGHT INTO THE RAIN.
Chapter 2 – The Missing Initials
I carried the vase downstairs, holding the delicate glass carefully as if it contained something far more valuable than a single yellow rose.
The engagement party wa…
“STOP WAVING YOUR HANDS LIKE AN IDIOT! HE’S DEAF, AND YOU’RE JUST THE MAID!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEMAID IN FRONT OF FORTY-SIX DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN EMILY REFUSED TO STOP SIGNING TO HIS 79-YEAR-OLD GRANDFATHER, LUCA MORETTI PUT DOWN HIS GLASS AND ASKED WHAT THE OLD MAN WAS DESPERATELY TRYING TO TELL HIM.
Chapter 2 – THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR MOTHER
The dining room went completely silent.
Forty-six guests held their breath.
I stood beside Antonio’s chair, the spilled champagne still freezing against my s…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER SIT SILENTLY THROUGH HIS ENGAGEMENT TOAST WHILE EVERYONE ELSE APPLAUDED—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE DROPPED HER HEARING AIDS IN THE SINK,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY HIS MOTHER COULDN’T HEAR A WORD.
Chapter 2 – The Diamonds In The Champagne
Luca didn’t let go of his mother.
He held her there in the quiet of the upstairs hallway, his massive frame shielding her small, trembling shoulders. For th…
THE MAFIA BOSS SAW HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER COME IN FROM THE RAIN HOLDING HER LATE HUSBAND’S DOG’S EMPTY LEASH—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “HE RAN OUT THROUGH THE SIDE GATE,” BEFORE LUCA EVEN ASKED WHERE THE OLD DOG HAD GONE.
Chapter 2 – THE COLD TRUTH BEHIND THE GOLD WATCH
Luca stopped breathing.
He didn’t turn around immediately. He just stood there, the rain from his dark suit dripping onto the marble floor, while his…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME POUR COFFEE AT HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER WITH MY RIGHT HAND WRAPPED IN A BLOODSTAINED KITCHEN TOWEL—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE BROKE THE OLD BLUE PIE DISH IN THE PANTRY,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY MY HAND WAS BLEEDING.
Chapter 2 – THE LIE IN THE LEDGER
Luca slowly put down his silver dessert fork.
The dining room around him was filled with the soft murmur of twenty-six wealthy guests, the clinking of crystal glass…
“GET THAT DOG AWAY FROM HER! HE’S OLD, DIRTY, AND HE DOESN’T BELONG AT MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR BRINGING HIS ELDERLY MOTHER’S GOLDEN RETRIEVER TO THE TABLE—BUT WHEN TERESA MORETTI WRAPPED HER ARMS AROUND THE DOG AND WHISPERED, “THEY’RE TAKING HIM AWAY TOMORROW,” LUCA SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – The Shadow By The Staircase
The heavy oak doors of the dining room stood open, and the silence in the room was absolute.
Every guest was frozen, staring toward the dark expanse of the gr…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME SERVE HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER WITH MY UNIFORM COLLAR TORN AND A RED MARK ACROSS MY NECK—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE SNAGGED HER HUSBAND’S WEDDING RING ON A SHELF IN THE LINEN ROOM,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY MY NECK WAS HURT.
Chapter 2 – The Red Velvet Ribbon
The staff sitting room was perfectly quiet.
I sat alone by the window, the newly repaired gold chain resting cool against my collarbone, Matthew’s ring safe against…
“SHE CAN SMILE AND NOD FOR ONE NIGHT! NOBODY CAME TO MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER TO WATCH AN OLD WOMAN FUMBLE WITH HEARING AIDS!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER HEAR THE SPEECHES—BUT WHEN TERESA MORETTI WHISPERED, “SHE SAID YOU’D BE ASHAMED IF I ANSWERED WRONG,” LUCA STOPPED HIS TOAST MID-SENTENCE.
Chapter 2 – THE NAME ON THE BLUE PAPER
The dining room went completely silent.
Thirty-four guests stared at the head of the table.
The crystal chandeliers seemed to stop shimmering. The pianist had…
THE MAFIA BOSS STOPPED HIS ENGAGEMENT TOAST WHEN HE SAW ME SERVING DINNER WITH PINK FROSTING SMEARED ACROSS MY BLACK MAID’S UNIFORM AND A BROKEN NUMBER-EIGHT BIRTHDAY CANDLE IN MY APRON POCKET—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE DROPPED HER DAUGHTER’S CAKE BEHIND THE KITCHEN FREEZER,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY I WAS CRYING.
Chapter 2 – The Warning In The Kitchen
“What did she say, Mom?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. I stood frozen in the middle of our cramped kitchen, one hand resting on the smooth white cardboard…