THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME SERVE HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER WITH MY COLLAR BUTTONED TO MY CHIN—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE CAUGHT HER NECK ON A COAT HOOK,” BEFORE HE HAD EVEN ASKED WHY I WOULDN’T TURN MY HEAD.

The grandfather clock in the corner of Luca's study ticked, each heavy swing of the pendulum slicing through the suffocating silence.

Luca didn't shout. He didn't throw his crystal tumbler against the wall. The terrifying stillness that settled over him was far more dangerous than any outburst. The polished, charismatic boss who had just hosted an engagement dinner was gone.

In his place sat a man realizing his entire life was a lie.

"Eleven months," Luca whispered, the words sounding metallic and sharp.

He and Vanessa had been together for exactly a year.

I stood by the heavy oak desk, my hand instinctively reaching up to gently touch the bruises on my neck. The throbbing pain was nothing compared to the fear currently freezing my blood. I had just exposed the deepest betrayal of the mafia boss's life, and I was the only witness.

"Mr. Moretti," I stammered, tears threatening to spill over my lashes. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been by that door. If I hadn't—"

Luca raised a hand, stopping me instantly.

"You did nothing wrong, Sarah," he said, his voice terrifyingly calm. "You told the truth."

He stood up, walking slowly toward the large safe hidden behind an oil painting on the far wall. He bypassed the stacks of cash and the sleek, black handguns.

Instead, he reached for a small cedar box.

He opened it and pulled out a heavy, silver pocket watch. It was antique, deeply tarnished in the grooves.

"Anthony's grandfather gave this to my grandfather," Luca said, his thumb tracing the intricate engravings on the silver casing. "It was a symbol of absolute loyalty between our families. When Anthony became my underboss, I gave it back to him."

He turned the watch over.

"I noticed he wasn't wearing it last month. He said it was at the jeweler's getting cleaned."

Luca looked up, his dark eyes locking onto mine with a cold, terrifying clarity.

"But it wasn't at the jeweler's. I found it in Vanessa's car two weeks ago. She told me she had picked it up for him as a favor."

The puzzle pieces were snapping together with brutal efficiency.

"She was sloppy," Luca murmured, more to himself than to me. "Or she was testing me. Seeing how much she could get away with before I noticed the poison in my own house."

My stomach churned. "What are you going to do?"

Before he could answer, the heavy study door clicked open.

My breath caught in my throat.

Vanessa stepped into the room. She had changed out of her red silk gown and was wearing a plush white robe. She looked perfectly relaxed, the picture of an innocent bride-to-be.

Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second when she saw me standing there, but she quickly recovered, her expression turning into one of mild annoyance.

"Luca, darling," she said, her melodic voice grating against my nerves. "Why is the maid still in here? I thought she was dismissed for the evening."

Luca didn't immediately respond. He stood by the open safe, holding the silver pocket watch. He slowly closed his fist around it, the metal biting into his skin.

"She was just leaving," Luca said. His voice was smooth, betraying absolutely nothing.

I didn't wait for a second invitation. I practically ran toward the door, keeping my head down.

But as I passed Vanessa, she stepped slightly into my path, forcing me to brush against her arm.

"Careful, Sarah," Vanessa whispered, so softly Luca couldn't hear. "Hooks are everywhere."

A chill ran down my spine. I hurried out into the hallway, my heart hammering against my ribs.

I needed to pack my things. I needed to get my younger sister, Maya, and leave Chicago tonight. If Vanessa realized what I had told Luca, my bruised neck would be the least of my worries.

I practically sprinted down the back staircase toward the servant's quarters.

When I reached the basement corridor, my phone buzzed in my apron pocket.