Chapter 2: The Document on the Table
Domenico didn't raise his voice.
He didn't need to.
He set Ruby down gently, kept one hand on her shoulder, and looked at Valentina the way men in his position look at someone who has already made a fatal mistake.
"You packed her room," he said.
"When did you plan to tell me?"
Valentina lifted her chin.
"She doesn't belong here, Domenico.
She never did.
You know what people say about where she came from."
The room didn't breathe.
Marcus moved closer.
"The family has questions about the girl.
Serious ones.
There are people who want answers before—"
"Before what?" Domenico's voice dropped lower.
Marcus stopped.
Then one of the elder guests, a man who had sat at the Falcone table for thirty years, slowly pushed back his chair and stood.
He looked at Ruby.
Then at Domenico.
Then he said something no one expected.
"The child is not the problem.
The document is."
Valentina's face changed.
Domenico turned.
"What document?"
The old man reached inside his jacket.
Valentina stepped forward.
"Don't."
But it was already on the table.
What was in that document — and why was Valentina so desperate to keep Ruby out of the Falcone household before Domenico ever saw it?
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The full truth is darker than anyone at that table expected.
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