THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME RETURN A WORN GOLD MUSIC BOX TO A SIXTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD WOMAN DURING HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE’S JUST A FORMER EMPLOYEE WHO CAN’T ACCEPT THAT HER TIME IS OVER,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE WOMAN WAS CRYING, WHY THE MUSIC BOX PLAYED HIS LATE MOTHER’S FAVORITE WALTZ, AND WHY SHE HAD REFUSED TO SELL IT FOR TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Chapter 2 – A VOICE FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE
The dining room of the Moretti mansion felt like a tomb.
Vanessa’s face lost all its color. Her manicured fingers gripped the stem of her champagne glass so…
“TAKE THAT EXTRA PLATE OFF THE TABLE! MY FIANCÉ’S FATHER IS DEAD!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE SNAPPED AT MY SIX-YEAR-OLD SON IN FRONT OF THIRTY-TWO DINNER GUESTS. BUT MY BOY REFUSED TO MOVE THE PLACE SETTING. “HE PROMISED HE’D HAVE DINNER WITH HIS SON TONIGHT,” HE WHISPERED. WHEN THE 35-YEAR-OLD MAFIA BOSS HEARD THE OLD MAN’S NAME, HIS CHAMPAGNE GLASS SLIPPED FROM HIS HAND. “WHO HAVE YOU BEEN FEEDING, LITTLE MAN?”
Chapter 2 – The Woman Who Came Back From The Dead
Matteo stared at the woman sitting to Vanessa’s right.
For the past three years, she had been introduced to everyone as Sylvia, Vanessa’s fiercely p…
“TAKE THAT KEY AWAY FROM HER! SHE DOESN’T NEED TO OPEN ANY DOORS IN THIS HOUSE ANYMORE!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER KEEP HER LATE HUSBAND’S BRASS HOUSE KEY—BUT WHEN TERESA MORETTI GRABBED THE MAID’S HAND AND WHISPERED, “THEY CHANGED THE LOCK SO MY SISTER COULDN’T COME IN,” LUCA SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – THE TRUTH AT THE CEMETERY GATES
“I knew it. That’s why she changed the lock.”
Teresa’s voice was barely more than a whisper, but in the dead silence of the dining room, it echoed like a …
“TAKE THAT SCARF OFF. YOU’RE MAKING EVERYONE UNCOMFORTABLE!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED ME IN FRONT OF TWENTY-EIGHT DINNER GUESTS—THEN SAID, “SHE WANTS EVERYONE TO FEEL SORRY FOR HER,” BEFORE LUCA EVEN ASKED WHY I WAS HIDING MY HEAD.
Chapter 2 – THE PHOTOGRAPH IN THE PURSE
The dining room was so silent I could hear the rain hitting the tall glass windows.
Luca’s words hung in the air.
Nobody in this house will ever make you ask…
MY DAUGHTER TURNED SEVEN TODAY. I COULDN’T AFFORD A BIRTHDAY CAKE, SO I SAVED HER ONE SLICE FROM THE MAFIA BOSS’S ENGAGEMENT DINNER. HIS FIANCÉE OPENED MY LUNCHBOX IN FRONT OF THIRTY GUESTS AND CALLED ME A THIEF—BUT WHEN LUCA SAW SEVEN LITTLE CANDLES WRAPPED IN A NAPKIN, HE SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – THE SILVER WATCH BENEATH THE TABLE
“Vanessa, how many people working in my home have you made believe I don’t care whether their children have enough to eat?”
The silence in the dining r…
I GRABBED THE MAFIA BOSS’S ARM AT HIS FAMILY DINNER AND WHISPERED, “PLEASE DON’T LET MY HUSBAND TAKE ME OUTSIDE”—BECAUSE HE WAS HOLDING A BABY HE’D JUST INTRODUCED AS HIS SON. WE HAD SPENT ELEVEN YEARS TRYING TO HAVE A CHILD.
Chapter 2 – The Paperwork In The Red Envelope
The silence in the dining room was heavy enough to crush glass.
I stared at David, my husband of thirteen years, who was now pinned between Alessandro V…
“STOP MAKING THOSE HAND SIGNS. YOU’RE EMBARRASSING HIS FAMILY!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE GRABBED MY WRIST IN FRONT OF THIRTY DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN HIS DEAF SISTER STARTED CRYING, I RISKED MY JOB TO TELL HIM WHAT SHE WAS REALLY SAYING.
Chapter 2 – THE SILVER KEY IN THE DESIGNER PURSE
“Vanessa… what papers?”
Luca’s voice wasn’t a shout. It was a terrifying, hollow whisper that seemed to suck all the oxygen out of the massive dining…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME PLACE A CHIPPED BLUE COFFEE MUG BESIDE A SIXTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD WOMAN AT HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE’S JUST A DINER OWNER LOOKING FOR A DONATION,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE WOMAN HAD KEPT THE SAME TABLE RESERVED FOR HIS LATE FATHER EVERY THURSDAY FOR EIGHTEEN YEARS.
Chapter 2 – THE PHOTOGRAPH ON THE FLOOR
The silence in the dining room was so absolute that I could hear the rain tapping against the tall glass windows.
Thirty-two of Chicago’s most influential peo…
VANESSA TOLD THE MAFIA BOSS I HAD BURNED MY ARM ON THE STOVE—BUT LUCA KNEW THE STOVE HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED ALL WEEK.
Chapter 2 – A SILVER LOCKET ON THE OFFICE FLOOR
“Who else has she been speaking for?”
Luca Moretti’s voice was barely a whisper, but it carried the weight of a falling gavel. He stood by the massive…
“STOP MAKING THAT ANNOYING NOISE! THIS IS A PRIVATE FAMILY DINNER, NOT A PLAYGROUND!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE SNAPPED AT MY SEVEN-YEAR-OLD SON, THEN ORDERED ME TO DRAG HIM OUT OF THE DINING ROOM. BUT MY BOY WHISTLED THREE NOTES BEFORE LEAVING. THE 34-YEAR-OLD MAFIA BOSS DROPPED HIS FORK. HE HADN’T HEARD THAT SECRET SIGNAL IN FOUR YEARS. “WHO TAUGHT YOU THAT?” HE ASKED. MY SON POINTED AT THE WOMAN IN THE RED DRESS.
Chapter 2 – The Ring Beneath The Table
The dining room went completely silent.
Even the clinking of crystal glasses stopped. Thirty powerful, wealthy guests held their breath as Adrian Moretti stare…