Page 91 of Mafia Daddy's Christmas Bride

The sight of her brings on new feelings of despair. Just yesterday, I was wondering if over time I’d become more than a legal part of the Ginetti family.

A true wife to Roman.

A mother-figure to Angelica.

How foolish to think I could have a family.

"Not now, Angelica." My voice comes out flat, but I can't muster the energy to pretend. Not after last night. Not after Roman made it clear what he thinks of me.

Her smile falters. "But yesterday you said?—"

"I said not now." I turn away, unable to look at her disappointed face. "Maybe another time." Although Roman won’t allow it ever again.

"You're just like all the mean stepmoms in my books!" she shouts. "Daddy was wrong about you. You don't care about me at all!"

She runs away, her small footsteps echoing down the hallway until I hear her bedroom door slam.

I close my eyes, her words like tiny knives in my heart.

I should go after her. Apologize. Try to explain that it's not her fault, that I'm just broken inside. But what would I say?

That her father thinks I'm a liar and manipulator? That I'm only here because the alternative was death? Besides, he told me to stay away from her.

My fingers twitch with the urge to reach for the phone I no longer have. My last connection to the outside world. Now I'm truly alone.

Part of me wishes I'd kept it hidden. At least then I'd have options, even if they were terrible ones.

But would Blackwood really have helped me if I'd called?

The more I think about it, the more I doubt it. He’d urge me to stay. Even when I told him I was being forced to marry Roman, his first thought was how useful my position would be.

I think back to the night he told me he would help me, but in the end, I was nearly mugged by a stranger and discovered by Roman. Where was Blackwood that night? He’d been late. Had he come at all?

Reality hits hard. I'm just another pawn to Blackwood. A convenient tool to gather information on La Corona.

He doesn't care about justice for my mother.

Roman is right about that. I've been manipulated by Blackwood just as surely as I've been controlled by my father and Roman.

The realization doesn't bring relief, just emptiness where hope used to be. I'm caught between powerful men using me for their own ends. None of them see me as a person with dreams and desires of my own.

I’m debating sketching when the doorbell rings. Mrs. Rossi's footsteps hurry across the apartment to answer it. A moment later, the space fills with high-pitched voices and excited chatter.

"Hello! We've come to play with Angelica!" A woman's cheerful voice rings through the apartment.

“Of course. I’ll let Angelica and Mrs. Ginetti know you’re here,” Mrs. Rossi tells the woman.

I wait in the bedroom wondering if Roman would want me to avoid his guests too.

“Ms. Elena Vitale is here with her children. I’d forgotten about this playdate. I hope it’s not a problem.”

I wave Mrs. Rossi’s concern away. I’m glad for it. Angelica will have something to take her mind off her evil stepmom.

“It’s fine.”

“Shall I make coffee for you and Ms. Vitale?”

God, I have to visit with her?“That would be lovely.”