“STOP CUTTING HER FOOD! SHE’S SEVENTY-NINE, NOT SEVEN, AND I’M NOT HAVING MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER TURNED INTO A NURSING HOME!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS ELDERLY MOTHER IN FRONT OF 38 GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE 26-YEAR-OLD MAID WHISPERED, “SIR, YOUR MOTHER HASN’T HAD A PROPER DINNER IN SIX DAYS,” GABRIEL MORETTI SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.*
Chapter 1 – THE PHOTOGRAPH BENEATH THE DESK
Daniel’s face drained of color under the dining room chandeliers.
Thirty-eight guests sat frozen, their expensive wine forgotten.
Gabriel didn’t raise hi…
“EMPTY YOUR PURSE ON THE TABLE, YOU OLD THIEF.” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED THE SEVENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO HAD RAISED HIM IN FRONT OF TWENTY DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN I PICKED UP A SMALL PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE FLOOR, THE MOST FEARED MAN IN NEW YORK LOOKED AT HIS BRIDE-TO-BE AND ASKED, “HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN LYING TO ME?”
Chapter 1 – THE SILVER WATCH NEVER TELLS LIES
“My brother died in a car fire twelve years ago,” Adrian said, his voice dropping to a dangerous, terrifying calm. “I buried him myself.”
The man in the…
“GIVE ME THAT PAPER! NOBODY WANTS TO SIT THROUGH AN OLD WOMAN STUMBLING OVER EVERY WORD AT MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 80-YEAR-OLD MOTHER IN FRONT OF 42 GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE 26-YEAR-OLD MAID PICKED UP THE TORN PIECES AND WHISPERED, “SIR, YOUR MOTHER HAS BEEN PRACTICING THIS SPEECH FOR THREE MONTHS,” ANTONIO CARUSO SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 1 – THE DOCTOR’S TREMBLING HANDS
Dr. Richard Holland’s face turned the color of spoiled milk.
Forty-two guests held their breath.
The crystal chandeliers seemed to dim in the suffocating si…
TAKE THOSE DIRTY FLOWERS OFF MY TABLE. YOUR DEAD MOTHER DOESN’T GET A SEAT AT MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE SNATCHED A HANDMADE BOUQUET FROM HIS NINE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND THREW IT INTO THE TRASH—BUT WHEN I KNELT TO PICK IT UP, THE LITTLE GIRL WHISPERED SOMETHING THAT MADE ME REALIZE HER FUTURE STEPMOTHER WAS HIDING MUCH MORE THAN A CRUEL HEART.*
Chapter 1 – THE MUSIC BOX UNDER THE FLOORBOARDS
The shattered glass of Maren’s champagne flute sparkled violently against the Persian rug.
Nobody moved. The twenty elite guests at the dinner table h…
TAKE THAT COAT OFF HER! SHE LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE WAITING FOR A BUS, AND I’M NOT HAVING HER RUIN MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED HIS 26-YEAR-OLD MAID TO REMOVE HIS 81-YEAR-OLD MOTHER’S WINTER COAT IN FRONT OF 36 GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE OLD WOMAN GRABBED THE MAID’S HAND AND WHISPERED, “PLEASE DON’T. THEY SAID I HAVE TO LEAVE AFTER DESSERT,” MATTEO RUSSO SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 1 – THE SIGNATURE ON THE POISONED DEED
The crystal chandeliers seemed to dim as the silence stretched across the mahogany dining table.
Thirty-six guests stared at Matteo Russo.
None of the…
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE TOLD ME TO THROW AWAY THE FADED YELLOW BLANKET AN EIGHTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD FORMER HOUSEKEEPER BROUGHT TO THEIR ENGAGEMENT DINNER—BUT WHEN MATTEO RICCI SAW THE SMALL BURN MARK IN ITS CORNER, HE PUSHED BACK HIS CHAIR, WALKED STRAIGHT TO THE OLD WOMAN, AND WHISPERED, “YOU CARRIED ME OUT OF THAT FIRE.”
Chapter 1 – THE MAN IN THE BLACK CAR
The silence in the dining room felt heavy enough to crush glass.
Thirty elite guests stopped breathing.
Matteo stood perfectly still, his dark eyes locked on th…
“SHE CAN EAT AFTER THE DOGS. I’M NOT HAVING A RETIRED CLEANING LADY AT MY ENGAGEMENT TABLE.” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED ME TO REMOVE HIS EIGHTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD GODMOTHER’S DINNER PLATE IN FRONT OF THIRTY GUESTS—BUT WHEN I LIFTED IT, THE OLD WOMAN GRABBED MY WRIST AND WHISPERED, “PLEASE DON’T TAKE THE NAPKIN.” WHAT WAS HIDDEN INSIDE IT MADE THE MAFIA BOSS CANCEL HIS WEDDING BEFORE DESSERT.
Chapter 1 – THE LIES IN HER DESIGNER HANDBAG
Camille’s face went completely white.
She looked around the dining room.
Thirty wealthy guests were staring at her in absolute silence.
The clinking of…
“IF SHE WANTS TO EAT WITH US, SHE CAN SERVE US FIRST.” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE PUT A HEAVY SILVER TRAY INTO HIS EIGHTY-YEAR-OLD FORMER HOUSEKEEPER’S TREMBLING HANDS AND ORDERED ME TO GIVE HER AN APRON IN FRONT OF THIRTY-TWO ENGAGEMENT GUESTS—BUT WHEN GABRIEL VESCARI SAW THE OLD WOMAN STANDING BEHIND HIS CHAIR, HE PUT DOWN HIS GLASS AND ASKED, “WHO MADE MY SECOND MOTHER SERVE DINNER IN MY OWN HOME?”
Chapter 1 – THE FACE IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
The dining room fell so silent I could hear the rain hitting the tall glass windows.
Gabriel stared at the folded photograph in his hand.
His dark eyes traced…
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE TOLD ME TO HIDE HIS SEVENTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD FORMER HOUSEKEEPER IN THE KITCHEN AND THROW AWAY THE LITTLE BRASS BELL SHE BROUGHT—BUT WHEN I PLACED IT BESIDE ADRIAN FALCONE’S PLATE AT THE ENGAGEMENT DINNER, HE STOOD UP AND CALLED HER “AUNT JUNE.” “That woman is not comi
Chapter 1 – The Deed To The Only Home I Know
June’s hands trembled, but her voice remained perfectly steady.
She pulled a folded, heavy-stock document from the bottom of her worn leather purse and p…
“TAKE THAT HEARING AID OUT! I’M NOT HAVING THAT AWFUL WHISTLING RUIN MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 79-YEAR-OLD MOTHER IN FRONT OF 38 GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE YOUNG MAID TRIED TO RETURN THE DEVICE, THE OLD WOMAN GRABBED HER HAND AND WHISPERED, “PLEASE, SWEETHEART. I JUST WANT TO HEAR MY SON’S VOICE ONE MORE TIME BEFORE I LEAVE.” WHAT LEONARDO MARINO DID NEXT BROUGHT THE ENTIRE DINING ROOM TO SILENCE.
Chapter 1 – THE SILVER KEY ON A TARNISHED CHAIN
The ballroom was completely silent.
Sebastian didn’t blink.
He stared at Florence, his broad shoulders suddenly rigid.
“What did she ask for, Miss F…