Once Upon a Lie Characters

Owner of The Hole Story, a bagel-and-book shop; daughter of Tommy and Francesca Cordone and younger sister of Nico. She grew up in a mob family that changed its name from Greco to Cordone after moving to Tennessee. She is independent, proud of the shop she built, and resistant to her father's attempts to match her with Leonidas.

Arc: She moves from wary single life to loving Shane, then discovers his undercover assignment and her father's criminal operation. After Shane is shot protecting her, she reconciles with him, marries him, and builds a new life in Alfred's house.

• Shane Maddox — neighbor, romantic partner, fiancé, and husband
• Tommy Cordone — her controlling father
• Nico Cordone — her overprotective older brother
• Francesca Cordone — her mother
• Alfred Sutter — close friend and father figure
• Leonidas Murphy — suitor pushed by her father
• Sunnie — her employee
• Cher — her employee
• Rita Fortune — HOA president who cites her

Former homicide detective recruited by Mike for Operation Redline; he goes undercover as a disgraced cop and moves into Magnolia Condos above Valentina. He is tasked with getting close to her, but guilt and genuine feelings complicate the deception.

Arc: He begins as an undercover operative using Valentina as a mark, grows to love her, is forced away by Nico, goes to the gala, takes a bullet for her, and later marries her.

• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — his mark, neighbor, romantic partner, and wife
• Mike — federal handler for Operation Redline
• Dominic "Dom" Dunn — homicide partner and friend
• Nico Cordone — Valentina's brother, who threatens him and forces him to cut ties
• Tommy Cordone — suspect in his undercover investigation
• Alfred Sutter — friend and Scrabble opponent
• Benedict "Benny" Maddox — his uncle and outside confidant for the undercover assignment
• Rita Fortune — HOA president who regulates his building

Former Greco Crime Family member who moved his family to Tennessee, changed their surname to Cordone, and built Cordone Freight; he is suspected of gunrunning and money laundering. He is a controlling father who pushes Leonidas on Valentina and demands her financial paperwork.

Arc: He tries to preserve his power and escape during the gala, is restrained by Shane, handcuffed by Mike, and confronted by Nico's CIA betrayal.

• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — his daughter
• Nico Cordone — his son, revealed as CIA
• Francesca Cordone — his wife
• Damon Murphy — his oldest friend and CFO/accountant
• Leonidas Murphy — his head of operations and preferred suitor for Valentina
• Mike — federal agent who handcuffs him
• Shane Maddox — undercover investigator and the man who restrains him

Valentina's older brother and Cordone Freight's director of cybersecurity; he is overprotective and later revealed to be CIA. He distrusts Leonidas as a match for Valentina and pushes back against their father.

Arc: He threatens Shane and forces him to break up with Valentina, then reveals the truth at the gala, helps arrest Tommy, tells Valentina about the money laundering, and leaves on a CIA assignment.

• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — his younger sister
• Tommy Cordone — his father, whom he helps arrest
• Francesca Cordone — his mother
• Shane Maddox — he forces Shane to stay away from Valentina
• Mike — CIA/federal colleague during the gala takedown
• Leonidas Murphy — dislikes him as a match for Valentina

Federal agent and handler leading the joint task force and Operation Redline. He demands proof connecting Valentina to Tommy Cordone's operation and controls information about the case.

Arc: He assigns Shane, pressures him for results, reveals Nico is CIA and Valentina is cleared, reinstates Shane, coordinates the gala takedown, and handcuffs Tommy.

• Shane Maddox — his undercover asset and subordinate
• Nico Cordone — CIA colleague
• Tommy Cordone — suspect he arrests at the gala
• Captain Leonard — co-briefs the task force in Leonard's office
• Dominic "Dom" Dunn — briefs him and dismisses his jokes

Shane's homicide detective partner and friend; he is married to Hannah and is the father of Abigail, Louie, and Tali. He jokes with Shane and is loyal to him.

Arc: He teases Shane about the undercover assignment, supports him through the case, urges him to go to the gala, and later welcomes Valentina into his home.

• Shane Maddox — homicide partner and friend
• Hannah Dunn — his wife
• Abigail Dunn — his newborn daughter
• Louie — his child
• Tali — his child
• Sherry — Hannah's mother
• Captain Leonard — his captain
• Mike — federal agent who briefs him
• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — Shane's partner, whom he welcomes

An elderly widower, Valentina's close friend and father figure, and Pip's owner. He is devoted to the memory of his late wife Avalyn and values friendship and hospitality.

Arc: He advises Valentina on love, hosts Scrabble and Shane's candlelit proposal, dies in his sleep, and leaves Valentina his house and Pip in trust.

• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — close friend he treats like an adopted daughter
• Avalyn Sutter — his late wife and soulmate
• Pip — his dog
• Shane Maddox — friend and Scrabble guest

Tommy's head of operations and right-hand man, and Damon's son. He pursues Valentina with Tommy's encouragement and is disliked by Nico.

Arc: He flirts with Valentina, asks her out, picks up her financial paperwork before dawn, and is repeatedly declined; Nico warns Valentina against him.

• Tommy Cordone — his boss and Valentina's father
• Damon Murphy — his father
• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — romantic interest pushed by her father
• Nico Cordone — Nico dislikes him as a match for Valentina

Tommy's wife and Valentina and Nico's mother. She plans the Cordone Ball and consults Valentina on gala menu choices; the task force rules her out of direct involvement in Cordone Freight.

Arc: She shows motherly concern for Valentina, is sobbing after Tommy's arrest, and later has a smaller place in Franklin arranged by Nico.

• Tommy Cordone — her husband
• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — her daughter
• Nico Cordone — her son

Tommy's oldest friend and Cordone Freight's CFO/accountant; he is Leonidas's father. He accompanies Tommy to The Hole Story and to business meetings.

Arc: No significant change; he remains part of Tommy's business circle and handles financial matters.

• Tommy Cordone — his oldest friend and boss
• Leonidas Murphy — his son
• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — his friend's daughter

Magnolia Condos HOA president; she enforces rules, issues violations, and is married to Ken. She takes community order and HOA regulations very seriously.

Arc: She fines Valentina, calls the AC crash a minor incident, later apologizes after repairs, and continues policing the Magnolia Connect app.

• Shane Maddox — new resident she regulates
• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — resident she cites and later apologizes to
• Ken Fortune — her husband
• Harold McKinley — introduces him to explain building safety
• Stanley Burrows — neighbor in the building

Employee at The Hole Story who works the morning rush with Cher and teases Valentina. She is interested in Nico and applies lip gloss hoping to look good for him.

Arc: No significant change; she remains a loyal coworker and comic voice at the shop.

• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — her boss and friend
• Cher — coworker and friend
• Nico Cordone — she is interested in him

Employee at The Hole Story who works with Sunnie and teases Valentina about men. She calls Nico eye candy and repeats Leo Murphy's name admiringly.

Arc: No significant change; she remains a playful coworker at the shop.

• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — her boss and friend
• Sunnie — coworker and friend
• Nico Cordone — she calls him eye candy

Nashville Metro PD captain who summons Shane and Dom and hosts the joint task-force briefing. He warns Shane not to mess up and says Nashville Metro will be hands off.

Arc: No significant change; he remains Shane's commanding officer and later has him sign reinstatement paperwork.

• Shane Maddox — his detective and subordinate
• Dominic "Dom" Dunn — detective under his command
• Mike — co-hosts the task-force briefing

Shane's uncle and one of Nashville's lead prosecutors. He is the only person outside the briefing room who knows Shane is undercover.

Arc: No significant change; he provides outside cover and support for Shane's assignment.

• Shane Maddox — his uncle

Dom's wife and mother of Abigail; she welcomes Valentina and teases Shane about her. She is part of the family life that contrasts with Shane's undercover isolation.

Arc: No significant change; she gives birth to Abby and later welcomes Shane and Valentina into her home.

• Dominic "Dom" Dunn — her husband
• Abigail Dunn — her newborn daughter
• Shane Maddox — friend
• Sherry — her mother
• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — she welcomes her at Dom's house

Rita's husband and an HVAC professional. He pilots the helicopter carrying an AC unit that loses control and damages Valentina's condo.

Arc: He appears sheepish beside Rita after the accident; no further significant change is shown.

• Rita Fortune — his wife
• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — neighbor whose condo his AC unit damages
• Shane Maddox — fellow resident who reacts to the accident

Magnolia Condos neighbor with a fixation on mail and mailboxes. He chats with Valentina, straightens her violation ticket, and reports Shane's mailbox being removed.

Arc: No significant change; he remains a neighborhood busybody focused on mail.

• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — her neighbor
• Shane Maddox — neighbor who watches his mail
• Denny — neighbor who calls him a mailbox peeper
• Rita Fortune — HOA neighbor

Valentina's childhood classmate who passed her a note saying his dad wanted to kill her dad. A year later his father was killed and he left Sacred Heart Elementary.

Arc: No significant change in the present story; his note and departure remain part of Valentina's mob childhood memories.

• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — classmate who received his note

Hannah's mother, who is obsessed with NCIS, calls Shane Gibbs, and quotes NCIS rule number four. She is warm and playful with Shane and the family.

Arc: No significant change; she remains a comic, welcoming presence for Shane and the Dunn family.

• Hannah Dunn — her daughter
• Shane Maddox — she calls him Gibbs
• Dominic "Dom" Dunn — Hannah's husband
• Abigail Dunn — Hannah's newborn

Dom and Hannah's newborn daughter, called Abby. She is held by Hannah, Shane, and family members after her birth.

Arc: No significant change; she is a newborn and a symbol of the family life Shane observes.

• Dominic "Dom" Dunn — her father
• Hannah Dunn — her mother
• Shane Maddox — calls himself her uncle Shane

Director of national intelligence who questions Shane in the hospital before Shane falls back asleep. He is part of the official scrutiny of Shane's actions at the gala.

Arc: No significant change; he appears only to question Shane after the shooting.

• Shane Maddox — questions him in the hospital

Director of the FBI who questions Shane in the hospital about going to Cordone's party and whether he received private intelligence. He offers Shane a chance to become a federal agent.

Arc: No significant change; he appears only to question Shane and make the offer.

• Shane Maddox — questions him and offers him federal work

Structural engineer with the city who inspects the damage after the AC unit crash. He confirms the building is safe but tells Valentina her condo must stay vacant until repairs are complete.

Arc: No significant change; he performs the structural inspection.

• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — tells her the condo must remain vacant
• Rita Fortune — introduced by Rita to speak to residents

Paramedic who examines Valentina in the lobby after the AC unit crash. He checks her vitals and cuts, declares her stable, and recommends someone stay with her overnight.

Arc: No significant change; he treats Valentina and clears her for recovery outside the hospital.

• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — examines and clears her after the accident

Alfred's late wife, remembered on her birthday and called his soulmate. Her favorite park and wedding dress become part of Valentina and Shane's story.

Arc: No change; her memory shapes Alfred's grief and the emotional rituals around him.

• Alfred Sutter — her husband, who calls her his soulmate
• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — honors her memory and wears her wedding dress
• Shane Maddox — joins the birthday commemoration at her grave

Alfred's dog, who accompanies him to The Hole Story and walks with Alfred and Valentina. He has a strong preference for his blue ball and later sleeps near Valentina and Shane.

Arc: No significant change; he is left in trust to Valentina after Alfred's death.

• Alfred Sutter — his owner
• Valentina "Teeny" Cordone — her companion and later charge
• Shane Maddox — Shane scratches and greets him

Magnolia Condos neighbor who brings pink-frosted cupcakes to Shane's party and reports that Jillian and Denny are coming. She is part of the building's social surveillance.

Arc: No significant change; she appears as a party guest in the building community.

• Shane Maddox — party host and neighbor
• Jillian — neighbor she reports on
• Denny — neighbor she reports on

Magnolia Condos neighbor who brings beer to Shane's party, warns Shane that Stanley is a mailbox peeper, and argues with Jillian about music. He wants Skynyrd played.

Arc: No significant change; he appears as a party guest and neighborhood gossip.

• Shane Maddox — party host and neighbor
• Stanley Burrows — calls him a mailbox peeper
• Jillian — argues with her about music

Magnolia Condos neighbor who arrives with Frank in matching wind suits and a fruit tray. She wants a nutritionally balanced menu, argues with Denny about music, and later posts about coasters.

Arc: No significant change; she appears as a party guest and HOA-adjacent neighbor.

• Frank — her husband
• Denny — argues with him about music
• Shane Maddox — party host and neighbor

Jillian's husband, who arrives silently with her in matching wind suits and a fruit tray. He is a minor Magnolia Condos party guest.

Arc: No significant change; he appears briefly at Shane's party.

• Jillian — his wife
• Shane Maddox — party host and neighbor

Magnolia Condos neighbor who brings gummy worms to Shane's party and jokes with him. She posts live updates and photos from the party in the building chat.

Arc: No significant change; she appears as a party guest and social-media voice in the building.

• Shane Maddox — party host and neighbor