I HID A THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD GOLDEN RETRIEVER UNDER A MAFIA BOSS’S PRIVATE DINNER TABLE AND WHISPERED, “PLEASE TELL THAT MAN HE’S YOUR DOG”—BECAUSE MY FIANCÉ HAD JUST TOLD MY 74-YEAR-OLD MOTHER HER LAST COMPANION WAS DEAD.
Chapter 2 – The Paperwork That Erased Me
The dining room of the Grand Bellmont Hotel suddenly felt freezing.
I stared at Vincent Moretti, my fingers numb against Walter’s red leather leash. “What do…
“PUT THAT BAG AWAY! MY FIANCÉ’S HOUSE IS NOT A SHELTER FOR WOMEN WHO CAN’T KEEP THEIR MARRIAGES TOGETHER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 30-YEAR-OLD SISTER IN FRONT OF THIRTY DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN SHE WHISPERED, “LUCA, I THOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONE WHO TOLD ME TO GO BACK TO HIM,” HER BROTHER SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – THE RED LIGHT ON THE PHONE
The silence in the dining room was so absolute that I could hear the rain tapping against the long crystal windows.
Thirty guests sat frozen, their expensive w…
“STOP READING TO HIM, HANNAH! HE’S A GROWN MAN, NOT A LITTLE BOY!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 26-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING HIS FATHER READ THE DINNER MENU—BUT WHEN THE OLD MAN WHISPERED, “I ALREADY SAID I’D STAY HOME FROM THE WEDDING, LUCA. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ASHAMED OF ME,” HIS SON SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – THE SPEECH ON THE FOLDED PAPER
The silence in the dining room was suffocating.
Vanessa’s confidence finally broke. She looked around at the thirty-six guests, searching for a sympathetic…
“TAKE THAT GLASS AWAY FROM HIM, HANNAH! I’M NOT HAVING A DRUNK RUIN MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 26-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR SERVING HIS YOUNGER BROTHER A DRINK—BUT WHEN THE MAN WHISPERED, “IT’S ONLY GINGER ALE. I HAVEN’T TOUCHED ALCOHOL IN TWO YEARS,” LUCA SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – The Missing Envelopes
The dining room went completely still.
Thirty-six powerful guests watched the Don of the Chicago Syndicate stand beside his trembling younger brother.
Vanessa’s fa…
“DON’T YOU DARE GIVE HER THAT CHAIR, HANNAH! BEING PREGNANT DOESN’T MEAN SHE GETS SPECIAL TREATMENT!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 26-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING HIS SEVEN-MONTHS-PREGNANT SISTER SIT DOWN—BUT WHEN THE YOUNG WOMAN WHISPERED, “LUCA, I THOUGHT YOU DIDN’T WANT MY BABY IN YOUR FAMILY,” HE SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – THE ENVELOPE ON THE SILVER TRAY
The silence in the grand dining room was suffocating.
Thirty-six of Chicago’s most influential people sat frozen beneath the crystal chandeliers, their di…
I GRABBED THE MAFIA BOSS’S ARM AT A CHARITY DINNER AND WHISPERED, “PLEASE DON’T LET MY HUSBAND TAKE ME OUTSIDE”—BECAUSE HE WAS RAISING MONEY IN MEMORY OF OUR 9-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER. THE PROBLEM WAS, OUR DAUGHTER WAS STILL ALIVE.
Chapter 2 – THE SECOND MOTHER
The ballroom of the Grand Bellmont felt like a vacuum. Every breath I took seemed to catch in my throat.
The elderly woman, whose name I still didn’t know, looked at me…
“GET DOWN AND PICK IT UP, YOU STUPID 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 THROW AWAY A BROKEN MUSIC BOX, LUCA MORETTI DISCOVERED HIS NINE-YEAR-OLD SON HAD BEEN TOLD TO STOP MISSING HIS DEAD MOTHER.
Chapter 2 – THE BOARDING SCHOOL BROCHURE
The silence in the dining room was absolute, broken only by the delicate, haunting melody still tinkling from the little wooden music box in Luca’s hand.
Fif…
I GRABBED THE MAFIA BOSS’S ARM AT A PRIVATE CHARITY DINNER AND WHISPERED, “PLEASE DON’T LET MY HUSBAND TAKE THAT MICROPHONE AWAY FROM MY SON”—BECAUSE HE’D JUST TOLD FORTY WEALTHY GUESTS OUR 11-YEAR-OLD BOY COULDN’T SPEAK. MY SON WAS STANDING BEHIND HIM, TRYING TO SAY ONE WORD.
Chapter 2 – THE ENVELOPE AND THE LIE
“Who helped you, Grant?”
Lorenzo DeMarco didn’t raise his voice, but the question echoed off the crystal chandeliers with terrifying authority.
Grant’s face was…
I GRABBED THE MAFIA BOSS’S ARM AT A PRIVATE CHARITY DINNER AND WHISPERED, “PLEASE DON’T LET MY HUSBAND TAKE THAT MICROPHONE AWAY FROM MY SON”—BECAUSE HE’D JUST TOLD FORTY WEALTHY GUESTS OUR 11-YEAR-OLD BOY COULDN’T SPEAK. MY SON WAS STANDING BEHIND HIM, TRYING TO SAY ONE WORD.
Chapter 2 – THE ENVELOPE AND THE LIE
“Who helped you, Grant?”
Lorenzo DeMarco didn’t raise his voice, but the question echoed off the crystal chandeliers with terrifying authority.
Grant’s face was…
“TAKE THAT BLACK RIBBON OFF YOUR APRON!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 27-YEAR-OLD MAID IN FRONT OF FORTY DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN HE LEARNED WHY SHE WAS WEARING IT, HE SET DOWN HIS GLASS AND ASKED HIS FIANCÉE A QUESTION THAT MADE HER GO PALE.
Chapter 2 – The Ghost in the Hospital Bills
The crystal chandeliers above the dining table seemed to hum in the suffocating silence.
Forty of Chicago’s most powerful people sat entirely immobilized….