ia went to the library, th

explanation. The lid was slightly open and the edge of a cloth sticking out. Aria approache

t a beach when she was five, a pair of earrings she vaguely remembered, and a worn leather-bound journal sealed

t. She removed the band and opened the cover. On the first

r mother's name. Her mother had been Isla Vale or so Aria had believed. S

mmed quickly as names that were mentioned weren't ones she recognized. A f

IO R

d in the meeting room. A powerful rival to Leon and i

iage negotiations and betrayals. There was a clear tone of caution, even fear, though her mother's writing remained controlled

pens, she must never know who I wa

om something much larger than a broken marriage. She wasn't just married to a Mafia king now. She

fore. Her mother had changed her name, left the Romano family, and married Giovanni Vale. But if Silvio Romano was her bloo

quickly closed the journal and shov

pped inside. She glanced at t

d the belong

ia said c

lunch downstairs in two

not asking an

without sa

ot. The information inside the journal changed everything. If Leon found out, would he use it aga

er language. Aria knew that name..... Marco De Luca. That was Leon's younger brother, the one who had died. Her mother had k

to the rear pocket. One was a family tree, partially completed, with branches leading back to Sicily. The name Isla Romano was listed under Silvio's lineage. The

the library. That room had several bookshelves, but she hadn't looked closely at the structure itself. May

inside her closet behind a stack of folded sweaters, then shut the door. She ju

Leon, but no conversation passed between them. The men at the table di

eft the room without looking bac

dditional information, but nothing else stood out. The earrings were simple. The scarf

asked Anna if she could

ou'll be escorted back tomor

s she didn't

family that Leon viewed as an enemy. Marco De Luca, the dead brother, had crossed paths with her mother. Sil

nderstood one thing clearly: her place in this house,

d find next in that l