THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME WRAP MY COAT AROUND HIS LATE WIFE'S SEVENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD MOTHER DURING HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE CAME HERE BEGGING FOR MONEY,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY THE ELDERLY WOMAN HAD BEEN LEFT STANDING IN THE RAIN FOR TWO HOURS.**

"My mother?" I breathed, my mind spinning into freefall.

Luca stared at the visitor log. "Your mother signed Vanessa into Caroline's room at 2:00 AM. The night my wife's heart failed."

The twenty-four guests began murmuring in shock.

Vanessa’s tears instantly dried up. Her expression shifted from panic to a cold, calculated sneer.

"It proves nothing," Vanessa snapped, straightening her shoulders. "I was there to offer comfort. Your wife was dying, Luca."

"Caroline wasn't dying," Eleanor cried out, her voice echoing through the silent room. "The doctors said she was in remission! She was supposed to come home that weekend!"

Luca’s jaw locked. The muscles in his neck strained against his collar.

He turned to me. "Hannah. Call your mother."

My hands shook as I pulled my cell phone from my apron. "Sir, she's very sick. The chemo—"

"Call her," Luca ordered gently, but firmly. "Put it on speaker."

I dialed the number. My heart hammered in my ears.

The phone rang three times before my mother's weak voice answered.

"Hannah? Honey, it's late."

"Mom," I choked out. "I'm with Mr. Moretti. He has a question about the night his wife died."

The line went dead silent.

"Mom?"

"Hannah, get out of that house," my mother whispered, her voice suddenly frantic. "Right now."

Luca stepped closer to the phone. "Mrs. Brooks, this is Luca Moretti. Why did you let Vanessa Bellini into my wife's room?"

A jagged sob came through the speaker.

"I didn't let her in," my mother cried. "She forced her way in. She had two men with her. They told me if I pressed the emergency button, they would kill my daughter."

Vanessa lunged for the phone. "She's lying!"

Daniel caught Vanessa by the waist and threw her back into her chair.

"Keep talking," Luca said to the phone, his voice a lethal whisper.

"Caroline was asleep," my mother sobbed. "Vanessa stood over her bed. She injected something into Caroline's IV line. Five minutes later, the monitors flatlined. They made me sign the log to make it look like a standard visitor entry, and then they threatened to burn my house down if I ever spoke."

Luca closed his eyes.

A single tear slipped down his cheek.

For two years, he had blamed himself for not being at the hospital when his wife passed.

For two years, he had grieved a natural death.

"You murdered her," Luca whispered, opening his eyes to look at Vanessa.

Vanessa laughed. It was a high, terrified, ugly sound.

"You think the police will believe a sick maid and an old woman?" she sneered. "I'm a Bellini. My family owns half the judges in this city."

"I don't need a judge," Luca said calmly.

He pulled out his phone. "Lock the gates. Nobody leaves this estate."

The guests erupted in panic.

"Sit down!" Daniel barked, pulling his suit jacket back to reveal the holster on his belt.

Everyone froze.

Luca knelt beside Sophia. "Baby, I want you to go upstairs with Grandma Eleanor and Hannah. Lock the door. Do not come out until I tell you."

Sophia clung to his neck. "Daddy, please don't let her hurt you."

"She will never hurt anyone in this family again," Luca promised, kissing her forehead.

Eleanor took Sophia’s hand. I guided them toward the stairs.

But as we reached the landing, Vanessa yelled out.

"You think I did this alone, Luca?"

Luca stopped.

Vanessa smiled, a venomous, triumphant grin.

"You think a charity volunteer ordered your wife's murder? I was hired. I was planted at that hospital to make sure she didn't survive to inherit the family shares."

Luca went completely still. "Who hired you?"

Vanessa tilted her head.

"Ask your precious head of security."

Luca slowly turned toward Daniel.

Daniel’s face was entirely blank.

He didn't speak.