THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED HIS FIANCÉE PUSH MY NINE-YEAR-OLD SON’S WALKER AWAY FROM HIM DURING HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN SHE SAID, “HE NEEDS TO SHOW OUR GUESTS WHAT HE CAN DO.” BUT WHEN MY LITTLE BOY WHISPERED, “MOMMY, I’M SCARED TO FALL AGAIN,” LUCA STOOD UP AND ASKED, “WHO TOLD YOU HE HAD TO WALK TONIGHT?”
Chapter 2 – THE ENGAGEMENT RING
The crystal chandeliers above the dining table suddenly felt blinding.
Twenty-eight guests sat in suffocating silence, their expensive wine glasses untouched, their e…
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE MADE ME REMOVE MY $39 WEDDING RING IN FRONT OF THIRTY DINNER GUESTS. “A MAN WHO LOVES HIS WIFE WOULDN’T GIVE HER SOMETHING THIS CHEAP,” SHE SAID. BUT WHEN MY HUSBAND WALKED INTO THE MANSION STILL WEARING HIS GREASE-STAINED MECHANIC’S SHIRT, LUCA NOTICED WHAT HE WAS CARRYING—AND STOOD UP.
Chapter 2 – THE EMPTY APARTMENT
The silence in the dining room was suffocating.
Vanessa’s face lost all its color, the expensive diamond necklace at her throat suddenly looking like a noose.
Luca M…
“READ THE NAME OUT LOUD, YOU STUPID LITTLE MAID! EVEN SOMEONE LIKE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEMAID IN FRONT OF FIFTY DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE MAID REFUSED TO ANNOUNCE THE WRONG GIRL’S NAME, A FAMOUS ITALIAN CONDUCTOR PUT DOWN HIS GLASS AND ASKED WHY VANESSA WAS STEALING A DEAD MAN’S DAUGHTER’S FUTURE.
Chapter 2 – The Missing Thirty Seconds
The banquet room of the Moretti mansion had never been so quiet. The silence was absolute, a heavy, suffocating blanket that snuffed out the polite murmurs and …
“THAT BOY ISN’T EVEN YOUR FAMILY!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE SHOUTED WHEN I GAVE A NINE-YEAR-OLD ORPHAN A SEAT AT HIS BIRTHDAY DINNER—THEN ACCUSED ME OF STEALING HER DIAMOND BRACELET. BUT WHEN LUCA MORETTI SAW WHAT THE CHILD WAS HIDING UNDER HIS JACKET, HE ORDERED EVERY GUEST TO STAY SEATED.
Chapter 2 – THE SIGNATURE ON THE CONTRACT
“Vanessa, you told me Luca had already agreed.”
The voice of the silver-haired man cut through the dead silence of the dining room. He stood halfway down th…
“TAKE OFF THAT WEDDING RING. YOU’RE NOT MARRIED TO ANYONE ANYMORE!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED ME IN FRONT OF THIRTY-SIX DINNER GUESTS—THEN ACCUSED ME OF STEALING A DEAD WOMAN’S JEWELRY. BUT WHEN LUCA MORETTI SAW THE NAME ENGRAVED INSIDE MY RING, HE FORGOT ABOUT HIS OWN ENGAGEMENT DINNER.
Chapter 2 – THE SIGNATURE ON THE CHEQUE
The crystal chandeliers overhead seemed to dim as the silence in the dining room stretched, thick and suffocating.
Thirty-six of Chicago’s most powerful peopl…
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED ME TO THROW AWAY A HOMEMADE PEACH PIE IN FRONT OF THIRTY DINNER GUESTS. “THAT WOMAN IS NOT WELCOME IN THIS HOUSE,” SHE SAID. BUT WHEN THE WOMAN IN THE WORN BLUE COAT WHISPERED, “I MADE IT THE WAY YOU LIKED IT WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE, VANESSA,” LUCA MORETTI ROSE FROM HIS CHAIR.
Chapter 2 – THE ENVELOPE IN THE BLUE COAT
The silence in the dining room was absolute, broken only by the soft, ragged sound of Mary Bellini trying to quiet her crying.
Vanessa’s hands gripped the e…
“DON’T YOU DARE LOWER THOSE FLOWERS! THEY WERE CHOSEN TO MAKE THIS TABLE LOOK ELEGANT, NOT TO MAKE ROOM FOR HER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR MOVING A TOWERING CENTERPIECE SO HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER COULD SEE HIM—BUT WHEN TERESA WHISPERED, “I HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT MY SON ALL EVENING,” LUCA MORETTI TURNED TO HIS FIANCÉE.
Chapter 2 – The Wedding Dress Fitting
The dining room went still. Thirty-six guests held their breath.
Teresa’s hands trembled on the table. She looked so small, yet in that moment, she was the only…
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED ME TO TAKE THE OLD MAN’S CHAIR AWAY—BUT SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHO HE WAS TO HIM.
Chapter 2 – THE THREAT BENEATH THE RED GOWN
The silence in the dining room was absolute.
Thirty-six of Chicago’s wealthiest elites sat completely frozen in their high-backed chairs. The only sound w…
“DON’T TELL THESE PEOPLE YOU USED TO CLEAN HOTEL ROOMS! THEY’RE HERE TO CELEBRATE A MORETTI, NOT HEAR ABOUT YOUR POOR LITTLE LIFE!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER AT HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—BUT WHEN THE MAID SAID, “SHE WORKED NIGHTS SO HE COULD BUILD HIS FIRST BUSINESS,” LUCA MORETTI SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – THE HOTEL MANAGER
The crystal chandeliers above the dining table suddenly felt blinding.
Thirty-six guests sat in suffocating silence, their expensive wine glasses untouched, their eyes …
“MY DAUGHTER DOESN’T WANT A CRIPPLED MOTHER!” MY EX-HUSBAND HUMILIATED ME AT THE MAFIA BOSS’S DINNER AND THREW THE LITTLE YELLOW COAT I’D MADE FOR OUR SEVEN-YEAR-OLD ONTO THE FLOOR. BUT WHEN LUCA MORETTI ASKED WHY I HADN’T SEEN MY CHILD IN ELEVEN MONTHS, MY EX-HUSBAND WENT PALE—BECAUSE HE’D TOLD LUCA A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY.
Chapter 2 – THE LOCKED DRAWER
The silence in the dining room was absolute.
Luca stepped toward his cousin, his dark eyes fixed on Marco’s pale, sweating face. The air in the room suddenly felt heavy…