THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE SLAMMED THE GRAND PIANO SHUT WHILE HIS 79-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WAS TRYING TO PLAY A SONG—THEN ORDERED ME TO TAKE THE “CONFUSED OLD WOMAN” BACK UPSTAIRS. BUT WHEN I TOLD THE MAFIA BOSS WHO HIS MOTHER HAD BEEN PRACTICING THAT SONG FOR, HE SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS CHAMPAGNE GLASS.
Chapter 2 – She Saw Them Burning The Letters
“She saw them burning the letters.”
The six words hung in the suffocating silence of the grand dining room.
Adrian Moretti stopped dead in his tracks.
…
THE PREGNANT MAID BAKED A BIRTHDAY COBBLER FOR THE OLD MAN EVERYONE HAD FORGOTTEN—UNAWARE HE WAS THE MAFIA BOSS’S FATHER, AND THAT HIS SILENCE WAS HIDING A TERRIFYING SECRET.
Chapter 2 – The Letters In The Flour
“Why,” Gabriel asked quietly, “is my father writing the name of a man you told me died three years ago?”
The kitchen was entirely silent, save for the heavy, rhy…
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE FORCED THE 76-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO RAISED HIM TO SERVE DINNER INSTEAD OF EATING WITH THE FAMILY—THEN FIRED ME FOR GIVING HER A CHAIR. BUT WHEN THE OLD WOMAN REMOVED HER APRON AND SAID, “YOUR MOTHER MADE ME PROMISE I’D NEVER TELL YOU THIS,” THE MAFIA BOSS ORDERED EVERYONE TO STAY SEATED.
Chapter 2 – The Woman Who Raised Him
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE FORCED THE 76-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO RAISED HIM TO SERVE DINNER INSTEAD OF EATING WITH THE FAMILY—THEN FIRED ME FOR GIVING HER A CHAIR. BUT W…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME KNEEL BESIDE HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER AT HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER, TRYING TO SLIDE A CHAIR BENEATH HER TREMBLING LEGS—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE REFUSED TO SIT WITH THE FAMILY,” BEFORE LUCA EVEN ASKED WHY HIS MOTHER HAD BEEN STANDING THROUGH THE ENTIRE TOAST.
Chapter 2 – The Empty Place Beside Luca
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME KNEEL BESIDE HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER AT HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER, TRYING TO SLIDE A CHAIR BENEATH HER TREMBLING LEGS—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAI…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED HIS FIANCÉE DUMP A HANDFUL OF QUARTERS FROM MY MAID’S APRON ONTO HIS ENGAGEMENT TABLE—THEN SHE SAID, “SHE STOLE THEM FROM YOUR MOTHER’S BLUE SEWING TIN,” BEFORE ANYONE HAD EVEN ASKED WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM.
Chapter 2
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED HIS FIANCÉE DUMP A HANDFUL OF QUARTERS FROM MY MAID’S APRON ONTO HIS ENGAGEMENT TABLE—THEN SHE SAID, “SHE STOLE THEM FROM YOUR MOTHER’S BLUE SEWING TIN,” BEFORE ANYON…
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE SLIPPED MY WEDDING RING INTO HER CHAMPAGNE GLASS AND TOLD TWENTY-EIGHT GUESTS, “A THIEF’S WIFE HAS NO BUSINESS WEARING GOLD IN THIS HOUSE!”—BUT WHEN LUCA HEARD WHY MY HUSBAND WAS IN PRISON, HE RUSHED TOWARD ME, HIS EYES FILLING WITH TEARS. THEN HE ASKED VANESSA ONE QUESTION THAT MADE HER STOP BREATHING.
Chapter 2 – The Woman Behind the Name
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE SLIPPED MY WEDDING RING INTO HER CHAMPAGNE GLASS AND TOLD TWENTY-EIGHT GUESTS, “A THIEF’S WIFE HAS NO BUSINESS WEARING GOLD IN THIS HOUS…
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE MADE ME PACK HIS 9-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER’S SUITCASE DURING THEIR ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN TOLD THIRTY GUESTS, “SHE NEEDS TO LEARN HER FATHER HAS A NEW FAMILY NOW!” BUT WHEN LUCA SAW HIS LITTLE GIRL STANDING AT THE STAIRCASE HOLDING HER TEDDY BEAR, HE RAN TOWARD HER. AND THE FOUR WORDS SHE WHISPERED MADE HIM TURN ON HIS FIANCÉE.
Chapter 2 – The Suitcase Beside The Staircase
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE MADE ME PACK HIS 9-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER’S SUITCASE DURING THEIR ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN TOLD THIRTY GUESTS, “SHE NEEDS TO LEARN HER …
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED ME TO SCRUB TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OF CHILDHOOD HEIGHT MARKS OFF HIS FAMILY’S KITCHEN DOORFRAME—THEN HUMILIATED ME IN FRONT OF THIRTY GUESTS FOR REFUSING. BUT WHEN LUCA SAW THE LITTLE PENCIL MARK I’D BEEN TRYING TO PROTECT, HE RAN TOWARD ME WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES. AND THE NAME WRITTEN BESIDE IT MADE HIM FORGET HIS OWN ENGAGEMENT DINNER.
Chapter 2 – The Name That Changed Everything
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED ME TO SCRUB TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OF CHILDHOOD HEIGHT MARKS OFF HIS FAMILY’S KITCHEN DOORFRAME—THEN HUMILIATED ME IN FRONT O…
“THAT WOMAN DOESN’T BELONG AT OUR TABLE!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED ME FOR SERVING DINNER TO A 72-YEAR-OLD COOK AT HIS FAMILY’S LUXURY RESTAURANT—BUT WHEN LUCA RECOGNIZED THE WOMAN STANDING BESIDE ME, HE RAN ACROSS THE ROOM WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES. THEN SHE REVEALED WHY VANESSA HAD ORDERED HER OUT BEFORE THE WEDDING.
Chapter 2 – The Woman at Our Table
“THAT WOMAN DOESN’T BELONG AT OUR TABLE!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED ME FOR SERVING DINNER TO A 72-YEAR-OLD COOK AT HIS FAMILY’S LUXURY RESTAURANT—BUT WHEN…
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED ME TO SERVE DINNER TO THE MAN I’D SPENT TWO YEARS HIDING FROM—THEN LAUGHED WHEN I DROPPED HIS WINEGLASS. BUT WHEN LUCA SAW MY EX-HUSBAND GRAB MY WRIST, HE RUSHED ACROSS THE RESTAURANT AND PULLED ME BEHIND HIM. WHAT VANESSA ADMITTED NEXT MADE EVERY GUEST QUESTION WHY SHE’D BROUGHT THAT MAN THERE.
Chapter 2 – THE YELLOW KEY AT TABLE SEVEN
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED ME TO SERVE DINNER TO THE MAN I’D SPENT TWO YEARS HIDING FROM—THEN LAUGHED WHEN I DROPPED HIS WINEGLASS. BUT WHEN LUCA SAW M…