I RAN INTO A MAFIA BOSS’S PRIVATE DINNER WEARING MY WEDDING DRESS, CLUTCHING MY 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER’S LITTLE RED SWEATER—THEN MY GROOM WALKED IN AND SAID, “SHE’S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.”
Chapter 2 – The Wedding Dress and Red Sweater
I RAN INTO A MAFIA BOSS’S PRIVATE DINNER WEARING MY WEDDING DRESS, CLUTCHING MY 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER’S LITTLE RED SWEATER—THEN MY GROOM WALKED IN AND SAID…
I GRABBED THE MAFIA BOSS’S HAND IN THE MIDDLE OF A LUXURY BALLROOM AND WHISPERED, “PLEASE DANCE WITH ME”—BECAUSE THE MAN WHO HAD LOCKED ME IN A HOTEL ROOM WAS STANDING AT THE ONLY EXIT.
Chapter 2 – The Dance That Changed Everything
I GRABBED THE MAFIA BOSS’S HAND IN THE MIDDLE OF A LUXURY BALLROOM AND WHISPERED, “PLEASE DANCE WITH ME”—BECAUSE THE MAN WHO HAD LOCKED ME IN A HOTEL ROO…
I SLAMMED THE EMERGENCY STOP BUTTON INSIDE A MAFIA BOSS’S PRIVATE ELEVATOR—THEN BEGGED HIM NOT TO OPEN THE DOORS FOR THE MAN WHO HAD JUST PROMISED TO MAKE ME DISAPPEAR.
Chapter 2 – The Elevator That Saved My Life
I SLAMMED THE EMERGENCY STOP BUTTON INSIDE A MAFIA BOSS’S PRIVATE ELEVATOR—THEN BEGGED HIM NOT TO OPEN THE DOORS FOR THE MAN WHO HAD JUST PROMISED TO MAKE …
“PUT THAT FLAG IN THE TRASH. YOUR FATHER’S FUNERAL WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED ME TO THROW AWAY HIS LATE FATHER’S FOLDED AMERICAN FLAG—BUT WHEN I ENTERED HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER WITH BLOOD ON MY WHITE APRON, SHE SAID, “SHE DROPPED IT WHILE CLEANING THE STUDY,” BEFORE LUCA EVEN ASKED WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
Chapter 2 – The Flag She Tried To Destroy
“PUT THAT FLAG IN THE TRASH. YOUR FATHER’S FUNERAL WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED ME TO THROW AWAY HIS LATE FATHER’S FOLDED AMERICAN …
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE KNOCKED A BOWL OF BUTTERED PASTA OUT OF MY HAND IN FRONT OF THIRTY GUESTS—THEN CALLED ME A THIEF FOR FEEDING SOMEONE IN THE RESTAURANT’S COATROOM. BUT WHEN LUCA HEARD A LITTLE GIRL CRYING BEHIND THE DOOR, HE RUSHED TOWARD HER. AND WHAT SHE SAID ABOUT HIS FIANCÉE MADE HIM FORGET THE WEDDING ENTIRELY.
Chapter 2 – The Little Girl Nobody Wanted Seen
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE KNOCKED A BOWL OF BUTTERED PASTA OUT OF MY HAND IN FRONT OF THIRTY GUESTS—THEN CALLED ME A THIEF FOR FEEDING SOMEONE IN THE RES…
THE MAFIA BOSS SAW ME SERVING HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER WITH A TORN APRON, A BRUISED WRIST, AND A LITTLE GIRL’S RED SHOE HIDDEN IN MY POCKET—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE TOOK THAT FROM THE LOCKED GUEST ROOM,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY I WAS CARRYING A CHILD’S SHOE.
Chapter 2 – The Girl Behind the Locked Door
THE MAFIA BOSS SAW ME SERVING HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER WITH A TORN APRON, A BRUISED WRIST, AND A LITTLE GIRL’S RED SHOE HIDDEN IN MY POCKET—THEN HIS FIANCÉE S…
“STOP MAKING YOUR FATHER FEEL GUILTY! HE HAD MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER FOR BRINGING HER SCHOOL CONCERT MEDAL TO HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—BUT WHEN THE LITTLE GIRL WHISPERED, “DADDY, I KEPT LOOKING FOR YOU,” LUCA PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2 – The Empty Seat
“STOP MAKING YOUR FATHER FEEL GUILTY! HE HAD MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO!” THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER FOR BRINGING HER SCHOOL CONCERT MEDA…
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED ME TO HIDE HIS LATE MOTHER’S FAVORITE CASSEROLE DISH BEFORE THE ENGAGEMENT TOAST—THEN SAID, “HIS SISTER ISN’T FAMILY HERE ANYMORE!” BUT WHEN LUCA RECOGNIZED THE CHIPPED GREEN DISH IN MY HANDS, HE PUT DOWN HIS GLASS. “WHY DID YOU TELL ANNA SHE WASN’T INVITED?”
Chapter 2 – THE PROMISE BEHIND THE GREEN DISH
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED ME TO HIDE HIS LATE MOTHER’S FAVORITE CASSEROLE DISH BEFORE THE ENGAGEMENT TOAST—THEN SAID, “HIS SISTER ISN’T FAMILY HER…
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED ME TO REMOVE AN ELDERLY WOMAN FROM THEIR ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN SAID, “SHE CAME THROUGH THE SERVICE ENTRANCE LOOKING FOR A FREE MEAL,” BEFORE LUCA EVEN ASKED WHY THE WOMAN WAS CRYING. BUT WHEN SHE LOOKED AT VANESSA AND WHISPERED, “I JUST WANTED TO SEE MY DAUGHTER,” HE SLOWLY PUT DOWN HIS GLASS.
Chapter 2
THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE ORDERED ME TO REMOVE AN ELDERLY WOMAN FROM THEIR ENGAGEMENT DINNER—THEN SAID, “SHE CAME THROUGH THE SERVICE ENTRANCE LOOKING FOR A FREE MEAL,” BEFORE LUCA EVEN ASKE…
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME SERVE HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER WITH MILK SOAKING THROUGH MY BLACK MAID’S UNIFORM AND AN EMPTY BLUE BABY COOLER CLUTCHED AGAINST MY CHEST—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE SPILLED THE MILK SHE WAS TAKING TO THE NICU,” BEFORE HE EVEN ASKED WHY I WAS CRYING.
Chapter 2 – THE EMPTY BLUE BABY COOLER
THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME SERVE HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER WITH MILK SOAKING THROUGH MY BLACK MAID’S UNIFORM AND AN EMPTY BLUE BABY COOLER CLUTCHED AGAINST MY CHEST—…