MY SEVEN-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER HAD BEEN PRACTICING HER FLOWER-GIRL WALK FOR TWO MONTHS. TONIGHT, THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE TOOK THE LITTLE WHITE BASKET FROM HER HANDS IN FRONT OF THIRTY DINNER GUESTS AND SAID, “WE FOUND A CHILD WHO LOOKS BETTER IN THE WEDDING PHOTOS.” BUT WHEN MY DAUGHTER WHISPERED, “DID I DO THE WALK WRONG?” LUCA SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – WHAT FELL FROM THE FIANCÉE’S PURSE
The silence in the dining room was deafening.
Thirty elite guests stared at Luca Moretti.
Vanessa’s face turned the color of ash. Her perfectly manicu…
“THAT BOY DOESN’T BELONG AT MY WEDDING TABLE,” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE TOLD ME—THEN SHE ACCUSED ME OF BRINGING HIS NINE-YEAR-OLD SON INTO THE DINING ROOM WITHOUT PERMISSION. BUT WHEN THE BOY ASKED, “DADDY, ARE YOU SENDING ME BACK AFTER YOU GET MARRIED?” THE MAFIA BOSS STOOD UP SO FAST HIS CHAIR HIT THE FLOOR.
Chapter 2 – The Silver-Haired Stranger’s Confession
The crystal chandeliers above the dining table suddenly felt blindingly bright.
Thirty-two guests held their collective breath.
Luca Moretti didn…
“GET ON YOUR KNEES AND CLEAN IT UP,” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED AFTER POURING RED WINE OVER MY UNIFORM IN FRONT OF THIRTY DINNER GUESTS. BUT WHEN I REFUSED TO PICK UP THE BROKEN GLASS, SHE SAID, “TELL LUCA WHAT YOU DID TO HIS LITTLE SISTER.” THE MAFIA BOSS PUT DOWN HIS FORK—BECAUSE HIS SISTER HADN’T SPOKEN TO HIM IN THREE YEARS.
Chapter 2 – THE MAN BESIDE THE FIANCÉE
The silence in the dining room shattered the moment I spoke his name.
“Marcus.”
Marcus Vance, the man who had just been toasted as Luca’s new equal in the Chi…
“YOU CAN EAT WHEN THE GUESTS ARE FINISHED,” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE TOLD ME—THEN SHE KNOCKED THE PLATE FROM MY HANDS AND ACCUSED ME OF STEALING FOOD FROM HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER. BUT WHEN LUCA SAW THE SMALL PIECE OF BIRTHDAY CAKE ON THE FLOOR, HE ASKED, “WHO WAS THAT FOR?” I WHISPERED, “YOUR FATHER’S OLD DRIVER. HE TURNED SEVENTY TODAY.” WHAT HAPPENED NEXT SILENCED THE ENTIRE MANSION.
Chapter 2 – [THE OLD BRASS KEY IN THE SILENCE]
The entire dining room went perfectly, suffocatingly still.
Thirty wealthy guests, dressed in silk and tailored suits, stared at the head of the table….
“SHE CAN WATCH HER GRANDSON’S WEDDING FROM THE SERVANTS’ TABLE,” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE SAID, PUSHING HIS 82-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER AWAY FROM THE FAMILY SEATS. WHEN I HELPED THE OLD WOMAN BACK INTO HER CHAIR, VANESSA SLAPPED ME AND ACCUSED ME OF DISRESPECTING THE FUTURE LADY OF THE HOUSE. BUT THE MAFIA BOSS HEARD HIS GRANDMOTHER WHISPER, “PLEASE DON’T MAKE ME GO BACK UPSTAIRS.” WHAT HE DISCOVERED NEXT MADE HIM CANCEL THE WEDDING IN FRONT OF FORTY GUESTS.
Chapter 2 – The Gold Ring on the Marble Table
The dining room went completely silent.
Forty wealthy guests, the elite of the city’s underground and high society, stared at the small, frail woman in …
“POUR THE WHISKEY AND KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT,” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED ME—THEN SHE ACCUSED ME OF DISRESPECTING HIS FATHER WHEN I REFUSED. BUT WHEN LUCA SAW THE GLASS IN FRONT OF THE OLD MAN, HE ASKED, “WHO SERVED MY FATHER ALCOHOL?” I WHISPERED, “YOUR FIANCÉE TOLD ME TO.” AND HIS FATHER, WHO HAD BEEN SOBER FOR NINETEEN YEARS, BEGAN TO CRY.
Chapter 2 – THE WATCH IN HER POCKET
The silence in the grand banquet hall was so heavy it felt like it could crush the breath right out of my lungs.
Thirty-four guests sat completely frozen. The str…
For one hour and twenty-seven minutes, a six-month-old baby screamed aboard a flight from New York to Los Angeles while his father, one of the most feared mafia bosses in America, struggl
Chapter 2 – THE MAN ON THE MANIFEST
Dante stared at my sleeping daughter’s empty seat through the curtain, then looked back at me with eyes as cold as the Atlantic.
“If your husband is just a contro…
MY EX-HUSBAND SNATCHED MY CAR KEYS AT THE MAFIA BOSS’S DINNER AND TOLD EVERYONE I WAS “NOT WELL”—BUT WHEN LUCA MORETTI STOOD UP, HE ASKED ONE QUESTION THAT MADE MY EX TURN PALE.
Chapter 2 – The Blue Key In The Drawer
“Then perhaps you’d like to explain something, Grant.”
Luca’s voice was dangerously quiet.
“How did you get inside her apartment?”
The dining room of the Mor…
MY EX-HUSBAND PULLED OUR LITTLE GIRL AWAY FROM ME AT THE MAFIA BOSS’S DINNER—THEN LUCA MORETTI HEARD WHAT SHE WHISPERED AND ORDERED HIM TO LET HER GO.
Chapter 2 – THE LIE HE FORCED HER TO WRITE
Andrew’s perfect smile finally cracked.
He looked around the silent dining room, his eyes darting toward the men standing near the doors.
“It’s a misunder…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED MY 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER SERVE CHAMPAGNE IN HER PROM DRESS WITH A WHITE MAID’S APRON TIED AROUND HER WAIST—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE ASKED TO WORK. HER MOTHER CAN’T AFFORD TO GIVE HER NICE THINGS,” BEFORE LUCA EVEN ASKED WHY MY LITTLE GIRL WAS CRYING.
Chapter 2 – THE TRUTH ABOUT THE COPPER WIRE
The dining room of the Moretti mansion was dead silent.
Twenty-eight wealthy guests stared at us.
But I didn’t care about them. I only cared about the se…