THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE TORE UP HIS 10-YEAR-OLD SON’S ENGAGEMENT TOAST IN FRONT OF THIRTY GUESTS—THEN SAID, “NOBODY WANTS TO SIT THROUGH A CHILD WHO CAN BARELY GET HIS WORDS OUT!” BUT WHEN THE BOY WHISPERED, “DADDY, I PRACTICED ALL WEEK,” LUCA SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – The Torn Toast
The restaurant was dead silent.
Thirty influential guests, men who commanded respect and fear in Chicago, sat perfectly still, watching the scene unfold.
Luca Moretti rem…
“EMPTY YOUR POCKETS, YOU LYING LITTLE MAID! EVERYONE DESERVES TO SEE WHAT KIND OF THIEF YOU ARE!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEMAID IN FRONT OF FORTY-SIX DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN A GERMAN JEWELER QUIETLY ASKED WHY VANESSA WAS SELLING LUCA’S LATE MOTHER’S BROOCH, THE MAID UNDERSTOOD EVERY WORD.
Chapter 2 – THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN POCKET WATCH
The dining room went completely silent.
Every eye turned toward the man who had just spoken.
He looked perfectly calm, sitting halfway down the long…
“YOU’RE HERE TO SERVE, NOT THINK! NOW APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE, YOU IGNORANT LITTLE MAID!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEMAID IN FRONT OF FORTY DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE MAID UNDERSTOOD WHAT VANESSA HAD SECRETLY PROMISED A PORTUGUESE BANKER, SHE REALIZED LUCA MORETTI WAS ABOUT TO BREAK HIS DEAD FATHER’S MOST IMPORTANT PROMISE.
Chapter 2 – THE LOCKED OAK DOOR
The brass key sat on the pristine white tablecloth, heavy with a history Luca hadn’t known existed.
Luca didn’t look at Vanessa. He stared at his uncle, his dark eyes…
THE MAFIA BOSS SAW HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER HIDING A LITTLE YELLOW SIPPY CUP BENEATH HER NAPKIN AT HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE KEPT DROPPING HER GLASSES, SO I GAVE HER SOMETHING SHE COULDN’T BREAK,” BEFORE LUCA EVEN ASKED WHY HIS MOTHER WAS CRYING.
Chapter 2 – THE ENGAGEMENT RING IN THE CHAMPAGNE
The question hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.
Twenty-eight guests sat frozen, the clinking of silverware entirely silenced. The string quartet…
“SHUT UP, YOU STUPID LITTLE MAID! YOU DON’T EVEN UNDERSTAND SPANISH!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEMAID IN FRONT OF FORTY DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE MAID REFUSED TO KEEP QUIET ABOUT WHAT A RETIRED NURSE HAD JUST REVEALED, LUCA MORETTI DISCOVERED HIS FATHER HADN’T DIED THE WAY VANESSA TOLD HIM.
Chapter 2 – THE NURSE’S SECRET
“No,” Elena whispered, her hands gripping the edge of the dining table so tightly her knuckles turned white. “That’s impossible. I was there when you arrived, Vanessa. …
I BLEW OUT EVERY CANDLE ON A MAFIA BOSS’S BIRTHDAY CAKE—THEN WHISPERED, “PLEASE DON’T LET THAT MAN TAKE ME OUTSIDE.” BUT WHEN HE SAW WHO WAS FOLLOWING ME, HIS THREE BODYGUARDS REACHED FOR THEIR GUNS.
Chapter 2 – The Woman in Red
The silence in the private dining room was deafening.
I stood frozen beside Rafael Vescari, the phone still pressed to my ear, my knuckles white.
“Diane,” I breathed, m…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME CATCH A HEAVY SILVER SERVING TRAY AS HIS 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER COLLAPSED TO HER KNEES AT HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE INSISTED ON HELPING THE SERVANTS. SHE USED TO WAIT TABLES, REMEMBER?” BEFORE LUCA EVEN ASKED WHY HIS MOTHER WAS WEARING A WHITE APRON OVER HER EVENING DRESS.
Chapter 2 – The Missing Photograph
The silence in the dining room was absolute.
Twenty-eight wealthy, influential guests held their breath, their eyes darting between the mafia boss and the woman wh…
MY 69-YEAR-OLD MOTHER SPENT SIX WEEKS SEWING THE RED GOWN THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE WORE TO HER ENGAGEMENT DINNER. TONIGHT, VANESSA TOLD THIRTY GUESTS IT CAME FROM A FAMOUS ITALIAN DESIGNER—THEN ORDERED ME TO REMOVE THE “POOR OLD WOMAN” WHO HAD COME ASKING TO BE PAID. BUT WHEN LUCA SAW MY MOTHER’S TREMBLING HANDS, HE PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – THE SILENT DINNER
The silence in the dining room was absolute.
Thirty guests, dressed in designer suits and cocktail dresses, stared at the head of the table. The clinking of crystal gla…
I KISSED THE MAFIA BOSS IN FRONT OF THIRTY DINNER GUESTS—BECAUSE MY HUSBAND WAS WALKING STRAIGHT TOWARD ME, AND I KNEW WHAT HE WOULD DO IF HE CAUGHT ME. BUT WHEN THE MAFIA BOSS HEARD WHY I WAS RUNNING, HE WOULDN’T LET ME GO.
Chapter 2 – The Silver Ring
The unwrapped towel revealed a heavy silver ring.
It wasn’t a wedding band. It was a signet ring, deeply engraved with a crest of a wolf and two crossed swords.
It was t…
MY 18-YEAR-OLD SON WALKED INTO THE MAFIA BOSS’S ENGAGEMENT DINNER WEARING HIS DEAD FATHER’S OLD CHEF’S JACKET—AND HIS FIANCÉE TOLD THIRTY GUESTS HE’D BEEN FIRED FOR NOT BEING GOOD ENOUGH. BUT WHEN LUCA NOTICED THE FADED NAME STITCHED ABOVE THE POCKET, HE PUT DOWN HIS GLASS. “WHO TOLD THIS BOY HE WASN’T WELCOME IN MY KITCHEN?”
Chapter 2 – The Missing Photograph
“When you told Daniel that everyone who reminded me of my father would be gone after Saturday, were you speaking for me—or were you telling him what you planned to …