THE MAFIA BOSS OPENED THE WRONG DOOR—AND SAW THE ONE WOMAN HE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO WANT

the thought of putting her hands on him.

“Help us both,” he said.

I should have said no.

I should have made an excuse.

Instead, I looked at him, saw the pain he was trying not to show, and remembered the twelve-year-old boy bleeding on my mother’s kitchen table.

“Okay,” I said. “But you follow my instructions completely. No arguing.”

A small smile appeared.continue reading …