"Sister-in-law, what are you saying? You're Dante's wife, which makes you family. You and the child arrived so suddenly that Dante was simply overwhelmed with joy and didn't know what to say. He would never hide anything from you!"
She tried to steer me toward a side room off the main hall.
I pulled my arm free. "You must be the elder sister-in-law."
Gianna's smile froze for a heartbeat before she forced it back into place with a nod. Her fingers drifted to the hollow of her throat, a gesture so practiced it looked like modesty. It wasn't.
In my previous life, I had pitied Gianna for losing her husband so young. I never thought to guard myself against her. So when she led me to that side room and offered me cannoli from a silver tray, I never once suspected her intentions.
I had no idea that the poison in those cannoli was what killed my daughter and me. And the hand that placed it there was Gianna's.
"I think I'll skip the side room. Didn't my husband just mention there's a sit-down going on? My daughter and I are starving. We'll eat there. And while we're at it, my husband can introduce us to everyone."
"Serafina!"