“HE’S STEALING FOOD FROM OUR GUESTS! SEARCH HIS POCKETS!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE SCREAMED WHEN SHE CAUGHT AN 82-YEAR-OLD MAN HIDING A SLICE OF WEDDING CAKE IN HIS JACKET—BUT WHEN HIS 27-YEAR-OLD MAID KNELT TO WIPE THE FROSTING FROM HIS TREMBLING HANDS, THE OLD MAN BEGAN CRYING. “PLEASE, SWEETHEART
Chapter 1 – THE OLD MAN’S SECRET
“Open your jacket, Henry. Right now.”
The old man stood trembling beside the dessert table.
His gray suit was too large for his thin shoulders, and one of his shoes…
“STOP MOVING HER HAND! SHE DOESN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT SHE’S POINTING AT!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 28-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING HIS 80-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER COMMUNICATE AFTER A STROKE—BUT WHEN THE OLD WOMAN POINTED AT THE FIANCÉE, THEN HER FINANCIAL ADVISER, AND SPELLED M-A-R-R-I-E-D, MATTEO ROMANO ORDERED THE MUSIC STOPPED
Chapter 1 – THE GODMOTHER IN THE RAIN
“Please, Mrs. D’Angelo. Sit down.”
I pulled a chair away from the dining table.
The elderly woman’s blue dress was damp.
Rainwater dripped from the ends of he…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME WRAP A LINEN NAPKIN AROUND A 56-YEAR-OLD SEAMSTRESS’S BLEEDING HAND AT HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE’S JUST HERE BEGGING FOR MONEY,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE WOMAN WHO MADE HER RED SILK GOWN WAS CRYING BESIDE THE DINING TABLE
Chapter 1 – THE SEAMSTRESS’S BLEEDING HANDS
“Take that napkin away, Claire.”
I froze beside the dining table.
The woman sitting on the little upholstered bench had blood running down two of her fin…
GET HER AWAY FROM THAT PIANO! I WON’T HAVE SOME OLD WOMAN RUINING MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 27-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING A RETIRED MUSIC TEACHER SIT DOWN—BUT WHEN THE WOMAN WHISPERED, “I TAUGHT YOUR DAUGHTER THAT SAME SONG,” ROMAN DELUCA STOPPED BREATHING
Chapter 1 – THE SILVER BRACELET AND THE RAIN
The silence in the dining room was so absolute I could hear the rain lashing against the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Roman stared at Victoria. The elegant,…
GET THAT WOMAN AWAY FROM MY ENGAGEMENT TABLE! I DON’T CARE IF SHE CAN BARELY WALK—SHE DOESN’T BELONG WITH MY FAMILY!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 26-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING A 68-YEAR-OLD WIDOW INTO HER CHAIR—BUT WHEN THE WOMAN SAW THE MAN SITTING BESIDE THE BRIDE, SHE GRABBED
Chapter 1 – The Forged Signature on the Certificate
The silence in the dining room was so absolute I could hear the crystal prisms on the chandeliers clinking together from the air conditioning.
Thi…
STOP CUTTING HIS FOOD! HE’S NOT A CHILD, AND I WON’T HAVE SOME PATHETIC OLD MAN BEGGING AT MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 27-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING A 74-YEAR-OLD MAN WITH TREMBLING HANDS—BUT WHEN LUCA MORETTI HEARD THE MAN WHISPER, “MY SON DIED SAVING YOU,” H
Chapter 1 – The Girl In The Pantry
Luca didn’t say a word. He simply turned his back on his fiancée, his thirty-two wealthy guests, and the lavish engagement dinner, and walked directly toward the ki…
“SMILE, EMILY. THESE PEOPLE PAID GOOD MONEY TO SEE WHAT CHARITY LOOKS LIKE!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEMAID BY READING HER MOTHER’S EVICTION NOTICE ALOUD AT THEIR ENGAGEMENT DINNER—BUT WHEN EMILY REFUSED TO THANK HER FOR A DONATION THAT NEVER EXISTED, LUCA MORETT
Chapter 1 – THE PHOTOGRAPH IN THE ATTORNEY’S HAND
“Because her mother knows what happened the night your father died, Luca.”
Arthur Harris’s words hung in the dead silence of the dining room.
Nobod…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME KNEEL TO FIX A 64-YEAR-OLD WOMAN’S BROKEN SHOE AT HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE WAS FIRED FOR STEALING,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE WOMAN WHO HAD RAISED HIM WAS CRYING OUTSIDE THE DINING ROOM.*
Chapter 1 – THE NURSE IN THE SERVANTS’ QUARTERS
“What did you just say?”
Matteo’s voice was barely a whisper, but it made the crystal glasses on the table vibrate.
Vanessa took a step back, her red…
STOP HELPING HIM! HE’S THIRTY-TWO YEARS OLD, NOT A TODDLER, AND NOBODY WANTS TO LISTEN TO HIM STUTTER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 27-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING A NERVOUS MAN PREPARE A TOAST—BUT WHEN THE MAN WHISPERED, “I RAISED HER AFTER MOM DIED,” MATTEO RUSSO SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS
Chapter 1 – The Old Man In The Faded Coat
“And Dad is downstairs right now. She told him to wait there until you were ready to thank him.”
The silence in the dining room was absolute.
Thirty-eight …
TAKE THAT MICROPHONE AWAY FROM HER, YOU STUPID LITTLE MAID! SHE CAN’T EVEN REMEMBER HER OWN SON!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 74-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WHEN SHE TRIED TO GIVE A TOAST AT THEIR ENGAGEMENT DINNER—BUT WHEN THE 30-YEAR-OLD HOUSEKEEPER HEARD ROSA WHISPER FIVE WORDS, ADRIAN DELUCA STOPPED THE MUSIC. “WHAT PAPERS, MOM
Chapter 1 – THE MAN WITH THE SILVER POCKET WATCH
The heavy oak doors of the foyer seemed to vibrate as the doorbell echoed through the silent mansion.
Adrian didn’t wait for security. He moved past …