THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME RETURN A MUDDY BASEBALL GLOVE TO HIS ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD SON DURING HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “HE WAS KICKED OFF THE TEAM FOR THROWING A TANTRUM,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE LITTLE BOY WAS HIDING HIS NEW JERSEY UNDER HIS JACKET AND WHISPERING, “I DIDN’T QUIT. I PROMISED DADDY I’D PLAY.”
Chapter 2 – THE HANDWRITING BENEATH THE LEATHER STRAP
Luca stared at the worn brown leather of his son’s baseball glove.
The dining room of the Chicago mansion was so quiet I could hear the rain hit…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME CATCH A WOODEN DONATION BOX AS HIS TWELVE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER’S FIANCÉE SHOVED IT OFF THE ENGAGEMENT TABLE—THEN SHE SAID, “SHE WAS BEGGING FOR MONEY,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE LITTLE GIRL WAS CRYING AND WHISPERING, “THAT WAS EIGHT MONTHS OF WORK FOR CHILDREN WHO DON’T HAVE BOOKS.”
Chapter 2 – THE LOCKED ROOM AT THE END OF THE HALL
“The room your mother used to read to you in.”
Luca repeated the words slowly.
His voice didn’t rise. It didn’t break. But the temperature in the …
“DON’T LET HER PLAY THAT SONG! THIS IS MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER, NOT A MEMORIAL FOR YOUR DEAD WIFE!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER REACH THE PIANO—BUT WHEN TERESA MORETTI PRESSED FOUR SHAKING KEYS AND WHISPERED, “CATHERINE NEVER FINISHED IT,” LUCA SLOWLY STOOD UP.
Chapter 2 – THE TRUTH ABOUT THAT RAINY AFTERNOON
The crystal chandeliers above the dining table seemed to hum in the silence.
Thirty-six guests held their breath.
Uncle Marco, sitting two chairs aw…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME GATHER THIRTY-SEVEN WOODEN BEADS FROM THE MARBLE FLOOR AFTER HIS TEN-YEAR-OLD SON’S FIANCÉE CUT THE BRACELET OFF HIS WRIST DURING THEIR ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN SHE SAID, “HE BROKE IT BECAUSE HE WANTS YOU TO FEEL GUILTY,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE LITTLE BOY WAS COUNTING EVERY BEAD AND WHISPERING, “I WAS SAVING THE LAST ONE FOR DADDY.”
Chapter 2 – THE LIGHT IN THE HALLWAY
Luca Moretti didn’t raise his voice.
He didn’t slam his hands on the engagement table.
He simply stood frozen, staring at his ten-year-old son.
“The hallway li…
“GET HER OFF THE DANCE FLOOR! SHE CAN BARELY STAND WITHOUT HELP, AND I’M NOT LETTING HER RUIN MY FIRST DANCE WITH LUCA!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER STAND AT THE ENGAGEMENT DINNER—BUT WHEN TERESA MORETTI GRABBED HER SON’S HAND AND WHISPERED, “YOUR FATHER SAVED THIS DANCE FOR YOU,” LUCA PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW CARDIGAN
“How many years have you known my father had another daughter?”
Luca’s voice didn’t just echo in the ballroom.
It completely shattered the silence.
Vane…
“GIVE CELESTE THE KEYS. SHE’LL BE HANDLING MY FAMILY’S AFFAIRS FROM NOW ON.” MY MAFIA HUSBAND ANNOUNCED AT SUNDAY DINNER—BUT HIS 84-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER STOOD UP AND REVEALED WHY HIS MISTRESS HAD BEEN ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT MY FAMILY FOR MONTHS.
Chapter 2
The little brass key landed beside my dinner plate.
I looked at it, then at my husband.
Across the mahogany table, twenty-five members of the Moretti family watched as Julian placed his g…
“HE WORKED IN THE GARDEN, NOT IN THIS FAMILY! TAKE THAT OLD MAN OUT BEFORE MY GUESTS START THINKING HE BELONGS HERE!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR GIVING AN ELDERLY FORMER GROUNDSKEEPER A SEAT AT THE ENGAGEMENT DINNER—BUT WHEN TERESA MORETTI TOUCHED THE OLD MAN’S HAND AND WHISPERED, “YOU KEPT YOUR PROMISE,” LUCA SLOWLY STOOD UP.
Chapter 2 – THE SILVER LOCKET IN THE GARDEN
Luca stared at Frank.
“What photograph?”
Vanessa gripped the edge of the dining table, her knuckles turning white.
“Luca, please. This old man is confus…
“DON’T TRANSLATE FOR HER, SOPHIA. BIANCA WILL SPEAK FOR THIS FAMILY NOW.” MY MAFIA HUSBAND SILENCED ME IN FRONT OF TWENTY-FOUR RELATIVES—BUT HIS 82-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER ASKED HIS MISTRESS TO REPEAT ONE SENTENCE IN ITALIAN, AND THE ENTIRE TABLE WENT QUIET.
Chapter 2 – THE TRUTH ABOUT GRANDFATHER’S LEATHER JOURNAL
“My grandfather?” I repeated, the words tasting like ash in my mouth.
I stared at Matteo. He hadn’t moved, but the muscles in his jaw were t…
“DON’T ASK HER TO RETURN THE BRACELET, ELENA. I GAVE IT TO HER.” MY MAFIA HUSBAND SAID WHEN HIS MISTRESS ARRIVED AT OUR FAMILY DINNER WEARING MY LATE MOTHER’S BRACELET—BUT HIS 83-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER RECOGNIZED THE ENGRAVING AND ASKED WHO HAD OPENED MY LOCKED DRAWER.
Chapter 2 – THE BRASS KEY IN THE VELVET LINING
“Anthony, what exactly was your wife’s mother supposed to leave behind that you were so desperate to find?”
Isabella’s voice didn’t rise, but it comman…
“GET THAT OLD DISH OFF MY TABLE! I’M NOT SERVING CHEAP HOMEMADE FOOD AT MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR HELPING HIS ELDERLY MOTHER SERVE HER HUSBAND’S FAVORITE DESSERT—BUT WHEN TERESA MORETTI WHISPERED, “YOUR FATHER MADE ME PROMISE TO SERVE THIS TO YOU ONE LAST TIME,” LUCA SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – THE GIRL IN THE FADED PHOTOGRAPH
The dining room of the Moretti mansion was so quiet I could hear the rain tapping against the tall glass windows.
Thirty-eight guests held their breath.
…