Just thinking about the man made me want to hit something. “I figured if he’d been found, someone would have gotten word to us. Just wanted to double-check. I’m not letting that piece of shit ruin our day. Tell me what else I’ve missed while we were away.”

Just as she opened her mouth, a loud thumping sounded over a microphone. “Excuse me, everyone,” a deep, masculine voice said.

We turned to look for the source and found a heavily tattooed man standing by the house along with my father and several others.

“I want to welcome you to my home,” the man said, and everyone began to clap.

“That’s Matteo De Luca,” Alessia whispered to me. “He’s the one who rescued me from that monster who hurt me. He’s the underboss of the Gallo family.”

The Gallos. They were the ones who had been behind my brother’s death. My father stood next to Matteo as though all had been forgiven, but I wasn’t sure I felt the same. I’d lived my whole life thinking of them as the enemy.

“It’s been many years since we’ve had a gathering of this size,” he continued. “And it’s our hope that it will become a tradition again. We are all stronger united in friendship than when we are at each other’s throats. All of us should do our part to help align ourselves in this new movement toward harmony. It is in that vein that I would like to announce my engagement to the stunning Maria Genovese.” He held out his hand, and to my utter astonishment, Maria stepped forward and placed her hand in his as the crowd erupted in cheers.

My jaw hanging open, I turned to Alessia, who looked just as shocked. We gaped at one another, unable to say a word.

“Thank you, thank you. We hope to ring in a new era of prosperity and peace among us all. Please, enjoy the party and thank you again for coming.” Matteo waved to the crowd with a broad smile, but I didn’t miss how Maria slipped her hand from his the moment his speech was over.

This was going to be interesting.

Thank you so much for reading NEVER TRUTH!

The Five Families is a series of interconnected standalones, and the next book in the lineup is Blood Always.

Blood Always (The Five Families #3)

It should have been a simple arranged marriage, but fate had other plans. He saw her untamed independence as a challenge. She saw his alluring authority as a threat. Their lives were altered irrevocably—from enemies allied by a strategic marriage to something dark and consuming.

Something that tasted like obsession.

Want more of Michael?

In the novelette Guilty Stars, Michael gets the delicious happily ever after he so deserves. Don’t miss it!

Didn’t catch the beginning of the series?

Check out book 1, Forever Lies, to learn about Alessia and the chance elevator encounter that changed her life forever.