Chapter 1 - The Dog Who RememberedThe crystal glass hit the marble floor before Olivia Marshall understood that she had done something wrong.
It shattered beside her shoes with a sharp, violent crack.
Every conversation inside Belladonna stopped.
Olivia stood beside VIP table twelve with one hand buried in the thick black fur behind Orion’s enormous ear.
The Cane Corso leaned into her leg like a spoiled house pet.
Two men in black suits moved at once.
“Step away from the dog.”
One of them—broad-shouldered, dark-haired, an earpiece disappearing beneath his collar—caught Olivia by the forearm.
She gasped.
“Hey!”
His grip tightened as he pulled her backward.
Orion rose.
Not aggressively.
That somehow made the room more frightening.
The massive animal simply stood between Olivia and the man holding her, amber eyes fixed on him.
The second bodyguard’s hand slid beneath his jacket.
Then Dante Moretti slammed his palm onto the table.
“Stop.”
The single word cut through the restaurant.
The bodyguard released Olivia immediately.
She stumbled backward, clutching her wrist.
Dante Moretti rose.
Olivia knew who he was.
Everyone in Manhattan knew.
Forty-two years old. Real-estate investor. Nightclub owner. Hospitality magnate.
And, according to every whispered story anyone had ever told about him, something much darker.
He was tall, dressed in a black suit beneath a charcoal overcoat, his expression so controlled that it frightened her more than shouting would have.
His steel-gray eyes moved from Olivia to Orion.
The dog pressed his head against her hip.
Dante stared.
“He doesn’t let anyone touch him.”
Olivia swallowed.
“I’m sorry.”
She pulled her hand away.
Orion immediately nudged it again.
One of the bodyguards muttered, “Boss…”
Dante ignored him.
Olivia forced a nervous smile.
“He seems sweet to me.”
Something changed in Dante’s face.
Not amusement.
Shock.
Almost recognition.
Olivia scratched Orion once more.
The dog closed his amber eyes.
“Good night, handsome,” she whispered.
She grabbed her tray and escaped toward the kitchen.
Behind her, Orion whined.
It was a low, heartbreaking sound.
Olivia stopped.
So did Dante.
When she glanced back, Orion was staring after her.
Dante was staring at Orion.
And for the first time since Olivia had begun working at Belladonna, she saw fear on the face of Dante Moretti.
The following morning, Olivia arrived twenty minutes early.
Her manager, Peter Caldwell, intercepted her before she reached the kitchen.
He seized her elbow.
“What did you do?”
Olivia jerked away. “What?”
“To Moretti’s dog.”
“I petted him.”
Peter looked as if she had confessed to setting the restaurant on fire.
“That animal sent a maître d’ to the hospital two years ago.”
“He didn’t even growl at me.”
“That’s the problem.”
Outside, brakes whispered against the curb.
A black SUV stopped beside the restaurant.
Peter’s face lost its color.
Two familiar bodyguards stepped onto the sidewalk.
The first was the man who had grabbed her.
The other, Olivia remembered, had remained near Dante’s chair.
Peter’s phone rang.
He answered.
“Yes?”
Silence.
His eyes moved toward Olivia.
“Yes, Mr. Moretti.”
He lowered the phone.
His hand was trembling.
“Moretti wants you.”
Olivia’s stomach tightened.
“Why?”
Peter looked through the glass doors.
“I don’t know everything.”
“Then what do you know?”
“He had people investigate you last night.”
Olivia stared at him.
“Investigate me?”
“He found something.”
“What?”
Peter shook his head.
“He wouldn’t tell me.”
The restaurant door opened.
The larger bodyguard entered.
His expression was different from the night before.
Less hostile.
More unsettled.
“Miss Marshall.”
Olivia crossed her arms.
“I’m working.”
“Mr. Moretti asked to speak with you.”
“Asked?”
The man hesitated.
“Yes.”
“That sounded suspiciously polite.”
His mouth almost moved into a smile.
Almost.
“My name is Rocco Bellini. The other gentleman outside is Samuel Greer.”
“I’m thrilled for both of you.”
“Miss Marshall.”
Olivia looked at Peter.
Her manager whispered, “Go.”
She stepped outside.
Dante was not in the SUV.
Instead, the rear door stood open.
Orion sat inside.
The instant the dog saw Olivia, his tail struck the leather seat.
Once.
Twice.
Then he jumped down.
Rocco tensed.
Olivia did not.
Orion pressed against her knees.
She laughed despite herself.
“Hi again.”
Rocco stared as though watching a ghost walk through a wall.
Olivia scratched Orion beneath his chin.
“What’s wrong with everybody?”
Rocco looked toward Samuel.
Samuel looked away.
Finally Rocco said, “He hasn’t eaten since you left.”
“That isn’t my fault.”
“We know.”
Olivia’s smile disappeared.
“Then why am I here?”
A second black sedan pulled up.
The rear door opened.
Dante Moretti stepped onto the sidewalk.
He did not look at Orion first.
He looked directly at Olivia.
There was something colder than anger in his face.
Something wounded.
“Olivia Marshall.”
She lifted her chin.
“That’s me.”
Dante approached until only Orion stood between them.
“What was your father’s name?”
The question struck so unexpectedly that Olivia almost laughed.
Instead she said, “Daniel.”
Dante closed his eyes for half a second.
When he opened them again, every trace of doubt was gone.
“Daniel Marshall.”
“Yes.”
“How did he die?”
Olivia’s throat tightened.
“A warehouse fire.”
“Who told you that?”
“My mother.”
Dante looked at Orion.
The dog was leaning against Olivia again.
Then Dante said quietly, “Your father did not die in a warehouse because of an accident.”
Olivia felt the cold November air against her face.
“What are you talking about?”
Dante’s gaze returned to hers.
“Daniel Marshall worked for my family.”
Olivia stopped breathing.
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Dante’s next words were almost a confession.
“And seven years ago, I ordered my men to find him.”
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