THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE TOLD ME TO SEAT HIS SEVENTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD FORMER HOUSEKEEPER IN THE KITCHEN—BUT WHEN I BROUGHT HER TO THE ENGAGEMENT TABLE, LUCA MORETTI STOOD UP AND CALLED HER “MAMA ROSA.”

The grand ballroom held thirty of Chicago's most powerful figures under massive crystal chandeliers. Men in five-thousand-dollar suits conversed in low tones while women dripping in diamonds laughed politely.

Vanessa was standing beside Luca near the center table in a striking red gown. Someone had just raised a champagne glass to propose a toast to the happy couple.

Then Vanessa looked over and saw us walking down the center aisle.

Her face changed instantly, turning from radiant socialite to pure poison.

"Emma," she called out, her voice sharp enough to cut glass.

Every conversation in the room gradually slowed to a halt. Heads turned. Guests looked from me in my plain gray housekeeping apron to the tiny old woman walking beside me holding a yellowed letter.

I ignored Vanessa and kept walking straight ahead.

Vanessa took three quick steps toward us, her heels clicking angrily on the marble.

"I told you where to seat her," she hissed between her teeth, keeping her voice low enough so the entire room wouldn't hear.

Before I could reply, Luca Moretti turned around to see what was distracting his fiancée. His dark gaze swept past me, past the pie in my hands, and locked onto Rosa.

The most feared man in the Chicago underworld froze.

The glass of whiskey in his hand tilted slightly, nearly spilling, but he didn't seem to notice. The hard, ruthless line of his jaw vanished instantly.

"Mama Rosa?" he whispered.

The old woman looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears. "Hello, bambino."

Luca pushed his chair back so fast it struck the marble floor with a heavy clatter. He didn't care about the disruption. He crossed the room in long, frantic strides, completely ignoring his guests.

When he reached her, he didn't offer a handshake or a polite greeting. He wrapped his massive arms around her small frame and pulled her tight against his chest.

The ballroom fell into dead silence.