MY DAUGHTER GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AT SIX O’CLOCK. AT EIGHT, I WAS STILL SERVING THE MAFIA BOSS’S ENGAGEMENT DINNER—AND HIS FIANCÉE WAS TELLING THIRTY GUESTS I HADN’T BOTHERED TO SHOW UP. BUT WHEN MY DAUGHTER WALKED INTO THE RESTAURANT WEARING HER CAP AND GOWN, LUCA PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – The Silence Scholarship
The silence in the Moretti restaurant was absolute.
Even the soft hum of the city traffic outside seemed to vanish. Thirty influential guests, business partners, …
I SAT IN THE MAFIA BOSS’S RESERVED CHAIR AND WHISPERED, “PLEASE PRETEND I CAME WITH YOU”—BECAUSE MY HUSBAND WAS WALKING THROUGH THE RESTAURANT DOORS WITH TWO POLICE OFFICERS.
Chapter 2 – THE GIRL IN THE RED COAT
The restaurant doors swung slowly open.
I stood behind Sebastian’s broad shoulders, my breath caught in my throat, terrified of what I was about to see.
Louise …
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME KNEEL BESIDE HIS ENGAGEMENT TABLE, PICKING UP THE BROKEN GOLD TASSEL FROM MY NURSING GRADUATION CAP—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE CHOSE TO WORK TONIGHT INSTEAD OF GOING TO HER CEREMONY,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY I WAS CRYING.
Chapter 2 – THE POISON IN THE INK
The dining room went completely still.
Twenty-eight wealthy guests stopped breathing. The string quartet in the corner had ceased playing five minutes ago. The only…
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE PULLED A LAVENDER CORSAGE FROM HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER’S DRESS IN FRONT OF THIRTY DINNER GUESTS—THEN SAID, “MR. ELLIS CANCELED. MAYBE HE FINALLY REALIZED HOW RIDICULOUS THIS LOOKS.” BUT WHEN LUCA SAW HIS MOTHER QUIETLY REMOVE HER WEDDING RING, HE PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – THE COLD TRUTH BENEATH THE LAVENDER
Vanessa didn’t immediately respond.
She stood frozen beneath the crystal chandeliers, her perfect smile entirely vanished. The silence in the dining r…
I GRABBED THE MAFIA BOSS’S ARM IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS SISTER’S WEDDING AND WHISPERED, “PLEASE DON’T LET THE GROOM TAKE ME OUTSIDE”—BECAUSE I’D BEEN MARRIED TO THAT MAN FOR SIXTEEN YEARS.
Chapter 2 – THE ENVELOPE IN THE CAR
“Melissa,” Isabella whispered, her voice barely carrying over the faint music from the ballroom. “There’s a reason Ryan needed you out of that house before midnigh…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME LIMP INTO HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER WITH A BROKEN PORCH-SWING CHAIN WRAPPED AROUND MY BLEEDING HAND—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE FELL TRYING TO FIX THE LEFT HOOK,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY I WAS CARRYING IT.
Chapter 2 – The Photograph On The Marble Floor
~1000 words
The silence in the small sitting room felt heavier than the storm brewing outside the estate windows.
Luca Moretti stared at his mother.
…
“HE’S BEEN DRINKING AGAIN. LOOK AT HIS HANDS!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS OLDER BROTHER IN FRONT OF THIRTY DINNER GUESTS—THEN ORDERED ME TO TAKE AWAY THE GLASS HE WAS TRYING TO HIDE. BUT WHEN LUCA NOTICED WHAT WAS ACTUALLY INSIDE IT, HE PUT DOWN HIS CHAMPAGNE. “MICHAEL, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SOBER?”
Chapter 2 – The Missing Niece
The private dining room went terrifyingly silent.
The crystal chandeliers seemed to hum above the thirty guests who were suddenly trying to make themselves as small as …
I HID BENEATH A MAFIA BOSS’S BLACK COAT IN HIS PRIVATE VIP BOOTH—THEN WHISPERED, “PLEASE DON’T LET MY FIANCÉ FIND ME.” BUT WHEN HE SAW THE BRUISES ON MY WRIST, HE STOOD UP SO FAST HIS THREE BODYGUARDS REACHED FOR THEIR GUNS.
Chapter 2 – THE BOTTOM DRAWER
The restaurant felt like it had dropped fifty degrees.
I stared at Nicholas’s phone, my heart hammering a frantic, sickening rhythm against my ribs.
“What baby?” Nicho…
THE MAFIA BOSS SAW HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WALK INTO HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER HOLDING A LITTLE GIRL’S MUDDY PINK RAIN BOOT—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE FOUND IT IN THE GARDEN. SHE STILL CAN’T LET GO OF THAT CHILD,” BEFORE LUCA EVEN ASKED WHY HIS MOTHER WAS CRYING.
Chapter 2 – The Box In The Flames
“The promise that neither of you would ever make the other feel like you were losing Sophie twice.”
The words hung in the grand dining room, heavier than the crysta…
TAKE THAT BLANKET OFF HER! SHE’S NOT A HOMELESS WOMAN, AND I’M NOT HAVING HER LOOK LIKE ONE AT MY ENGAGEMENT DINNER!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD MAID FOR KEEPING HIS ELDERLY MOTHER WARM
Chapter 2 – The Silver Locket On The Floor
Michael didn’t answer.
He stood perfectly still in the dining room doorway, his hands resting in the pockets of his tailored suit.
Thirty-six guests held …