I WALKED INTO A MAFIA BOSS’S SISTER’S ENGAGEMENT DINNER HOLDING MY 10-YEAR-OLD SON’S BIRTHDAY CAKE—THEN MY LITTLE BOY POINTED AT THE GROOM AND WHISPERED, “MOM, WHY IS DADDY MARRYING SOMEONE ELSE?”
Chapter 2 – The Admission Bracelet
Benjamin’s small hands trembled as he reached into the pocket of his baseball jacket.
The entire private dining room was suffocatingly quiet. I could hear the fain…
“WHO TOLD YOU TO OPEN YOUR MOUTH, YOU IGNORANT LITTLE MAID? YOU DON’T EVEN SPEAK POLISH!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEMAID IN FRONT OF FORTY DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE MAID REFUSED TO REPEAT WHAT VANESSA HAD SECRETLY TOLD A POLISH ATTORNEY, LUCA MORETTI REALIZED HIS OWN SISTER WAS ABOUT TO LOSE EVERYTHING THEIR FATHER HAD LEFT HER.
Chapter 2 – THE SECRET OF THE SILVER POCKET WATCH
“What happened to Dad’s company?” Luca asked.
His voice was dangerously quiet.
It was the kind of quiet that made the forty wealthy dinner guests s…
“NOBODY ASKED FOR YOUR OPINION, YOU IGNORANT LITTLE MAID! YOU DON’T EVEN UNDERSTAND SPANISH!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEMAID IN FRONT OF FORTY-EIGHT DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE MAID REVEALED WHAT VANESSA HAD SECRETLY TOLD A WEDDING PLANNER, LUCA MORETTI REALIZED HIS OWN BROTHER HAD BEEN LIED TO FOR WEEKS.
Chapter 2 – The Devil At The Dinner Table
“A different name?” Michael repeated, his voice barely a whisper.
Valeria nodded slowly. She looked down at her hands, clearly realizing she had just ignite…
“SHUT YOUR MOUTH, YOU STUPID LITTLE MAID! YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SAY THANK YOU IN ITALIAN!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEMAID IN FRONT OF FORTY DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE MAID REFUSED TO SERVE A GLASS OF WINE TO LUCA’S YOUNGER BROTHER, AN ITALIAN BUSINESSMAN STOOD UP AND ASKED HER TO REPEAT WHAT VANESSA HAD SECRETLY TOLD HIM.
Chapter 2 – THE TRUTH BEHIND THE WHISKEY GLASS
I stood completely frozen in the dining room.
Forty wealthy guests were staring at me.
Michael’s hands were trembling against the white tablecloth.
L…
“SHUT YOUR MOUTH, YOU IGNORANT LITTLE MAID! YOU DON’T EVEN UNDERSTAND ITALIAN!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEMAID IN FRONT OF FIFTY DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE MAID REFUSED TO SERVE A WEALTHY ITALIAN BANKER UNTIL HE TOLD LUCA WHAT VANESSA HAD SECRETLY ARRANGED, THE ENTIRE TABLE WENT SILENT.
Chapter 2 – The Name He Swore To Forget
“Luca… I think she knows why Dad stopped speaking to his oldest friend three weeks before he died.”
The silence in the dining room was absolute.
Fifty weal…
“GET ON YOUR KNEES AND PICK IT UP, YOU IGNORANT LITTLE MAID! YOU DON’T EVEN UNDERSTAND ITALIAN!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEMAID IN FRONT OF FIFTY DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE MAID REFUSED TO HIDE A SMALL SILVER FILM CANISTER, AN ITALIAN BUSINESSMAN STOOD UP AND ASKED WHY VANESSA WAS KEEPING A DEAD MOTHER’S LAST MESSAGE FROM HER NINE-YEAR-OLD SON.
Chapter 2 – A MOTHER’S VOICE FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE
Luca stared at the second silver canister in his hands.
His knuckles turned white as he gripped the cold metal.
Fifty dinner guests held their bre…
“TAKE THAT FUNERAL FLOWER OFF YOUR UNIFORM!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED ME IN FRONT OF TWENTY-EIGHT DINNER GUESTS—THEN TOLD HIM, “SHE CHOSE TO WORK INSTEAD OF SAYING GOODBYE TO HER MOTHER,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY I WAS CRYING.
Chapter 2 – SHE TOLD MY SISTER I WANTED OVERTIME
“Vanessa,” Luca said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “What did you tell her?”
Vanessa’s face flushed.
She took a step back, her expensiv…
“YOU’RE A HOUSEMAID, NOT THE GUEST OF HONOR!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE CRUSHED MY MOTHER-OF-THE-BRIDE CORSAGE IN FRONT OF TWENTY-EIGHT DINNER GUESTS—THEN SAID, “SHE CHOSE TO WORK INSTEAD OF GOING TO HER DAUGHTER’S WEDDING,” BEFORE LUCA EVEN ASKED WHY I WAS CRYING.
Chapter 2
“When Margaret’s daughter asked whether her own mother was ashamed of her, why didn’t you tell that girl the truth?”
Luca’s voice echoed through the massive dining room.
Twenty-eight weal…
“HE’S NOT YOUR REAL FATHER,” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE TOLD HIS 26-YEAR-OLD STEPDAUGHTER BEFORE THEIR ENGAGEMENT DINNER—BUT WHEN I WALKED THE CRYING BRIDE INTO THE DINING ROOM, LUCA MORETTI STOOD UP AND ASKED, “MADDIE, WHO TOLD YOU I WOULDN’T WALK YOU DOWN THE AISLE?”
Chapter 2 – HOW DID HE GET HER ADDRESS?
Vanessa stepped back, her red satin gown rustling against the marble floor.
She looked at the thirty wealthy guests staring at her in absolute silence. Then s…
“I PROMISE I WON’T BE A BURDEN ANYMORE,” THE MAFIA BOSS’S 14-YEAR-OLD BROTHER WHISPERED AT HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—BUT WHEN LUCA MORETTI SAW THE BOY HOLDING THEIR DEAD FATHER’S OLD COAT, HE DROPPED TO HIS KNEES AND ASKED, “SAMMY, WHO MADE YOU THINK I DIDN’T WANT YOU?”
Chapter 2 – WHAT HAPPENED AT THE HOSPITAL
For the first time that evening, the woman who had spent months keeping two brothers apart had absolutely nothing to say.
Vanessa’s beautiful, perfectly scu…