THE MAFIA BOSS SAW HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER PLACE SIX CRUMPLED HUNDRED-DOLLAR BILLS BESIDE HIS CHAMPAGNE GLASS—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE’S CONFUSED. SHE THINKS SHE HAS TO PAY FOR DINNER,” BEFORE LUCA EVEN ASKED WHY HIS MOTHER WAS TREMBLING.
Chapter 2 – THE SUITCASE BEHIND THE DOOR
“But she said you wouldn’t have to know until I was already gone.”
Those words seemed to take all the air out of the dining room.
Luca Moretti stood perfect…
THE WATCH HE TRIED TO RETURN
Chapter 2 – THE PROMISE SHE TRIED TO ERASE
“Answer me, Vanessa.”
Luca Moretti stood beside Ethan’s chair, one tattooed hand resting on the boy’s shoulder.
His fiancée looked around the dining room….
THE TWO HOURS HE COULDN’T GIVE
Chapter 2 – A QUESTION NO RING COULD ANSWER
Vanessa stared at Luca as though he’d slapped her.
“You’re asking me to defend our marriage in front of the help?”
“No,” Luca answered. “I’m asking you t…
THE PROMISE THAT STOLE HER HOME
Chapter 2 – THE MAN SHE NEVER CHOSE
“No, Mom.”
Luca Moretti’s answer came so quickly that Teresa barely had time to finish her question.
“I never promised another man you would go live with him.”
…
THE SIGNATURE THAT STOLE HER HOME
Chapter 2
“The photograph, Uncle Luca.”
Sophie’s voice was so small that I almost didn’t hear her.
Luca Moretti was still kneeling beside his twelve-year-old niece, one hand resting gently against …
THE MAFIA BOSS SAW HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WALK INTO HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER HOLDING A BROKEN ANSWERING MACHINE, WITH BLACK CASSETTE TAPE TANGLED AROUND HER FINGERS—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE DESTROYED IT TRYING TO HEAR HER DEAD HUSBAND’S VOICE AGAIN,” BEFORE LUCA EVEN ASKED WHY HIS MOTHER WAS CRYING.
Chapter 2 – THE EMPTY CHAIR BESIDE HIM
Then Luca turned toward the twenty-eight guests sitting beneath the crystal chandeliers.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “Dinner is going to have to wait.”
Vane…
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE TORE UP HIS 10-YEAR-OLD SON’S ENGAGEMENT TOAST IN FRONT OF THIRTY GUESTS—THEN SAID, “NOBODY WANTS TO SIT THROUGH A CHILD WHO CAN BARELY GET HIS WORDS OUT!” BUT WHEN THE BOY WHISPERED, “DADDY, I PRACTICED ALL WEEK,” LUCA SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – The Torn Toast
The restaurant was dead silent.
Thirty influential guests, men who commanded respect and fear in Chicago, sat perfectly still, watching the scene unfold.
Luca Moretti rem…
“EMPTY YOUR POCKETS, YOU LYING LITTLE MAID! EVERYONE DESERVES TO SEE WHAT KIND OF THIEF YOU ARE!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEMAID IN FRONT OF FORTY-SIX DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN A GERMAN JEWELER QUIETLY ASKED WHY VANESSA WAS SELLING LUCA’S LATE MOTHER’S BROOCH, THE MAID UNDERSTOOD EVERY WORD.
Chapter 2 – THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN POCKET WATCH
The dining room went completely silent.
Every eye turned toward the man who had just spoken.
He looked perfectly calm, sitting halfway down the long…
“YOU’RE HERE TO SERVE, NOT THINK! NOW APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE, YOU IGNORANT LITTLE MAID!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEMAID IN FRONT OF FORTY DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE MAID UNDERSTOOD WHAT VANESSA HAD SECRETLY PROMISED A PORTUGUESE BANKER, SHE REALIZED LUCA MORETTI WAS ABOUT TO BREAK HIS DEAD FATHER’S MOST IMPORTANT PROMISE.
Chapter 2 – THE LOCKED OAK DOOR
The brass key sat on the pristine white tablecloth, heavy with a history Luca hadn’t known existed.
Luca didn’t look at Vanessa. He stared at his uncle, his dark eyes…
THE MAFIA BOSS SAW HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER HIDING A LITTLE YELLOW SIPPY CUP BENEATH HER NAPKIN AT HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE KEPT DROPPING HER GLASSES, SO I GAVE HER SOMETHING SHE COULDN’T BREAK,” BEFORE LUCA EVEN ASKED WHY HIS MOTHER WAS CRYING.
Chapter 2 – THE ENGAGEMENT RING IN THE CHAMPAGNE
The question hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.
Twenty-eight guests sat frozen, the clinking of silverware entirely silenced. The string quartet…