Chapter 2

The reply came fast. "Three days from now. Wait for me at Ibis Pier."

Something inside me eased. I couldn't explain the relief.

In three days, I wouldn't have to put up with this kind of pain anymore.

I slowly began to pull myself together as I packed my bags.

In all that time, Andre didn't call me once. He didn't even send a voice message.

My hands had only just warmed up. Now they were slowly going cold again.

Whenever we fought, Andre used to call and apologize, and he'd mean it. Only then would he dare come home, hesitant and careful. He'd pull me into his arms and hold my cold hands against his body to warm them, as though seeing me cold hurt him too.

But this time, my phone didn't ring again until late that night.

I picked up, but it was Nora's cocky voice on the other end. "Still waiting for Andre to say he's sorry?

"Let me tell you something. He's not going to apologize, and he's not coming home tonight either. Andre's always spoiled you too much, and it's made you forget your place. You're nothing but an orphan, some kid who grew up in a group home. If Andre didn't have a thing for you, you'd probably still be dirt-poor."

Someone in the background gasped. "Oh my God, she's an orphan? The way she walks around like an ice queen every day, I figured she was some mob princess. And she has the nerve to make Don Marino lower himself to sweet-talk her?"

"Seriously," someone else said. "She really thinks she's the Donna."

I couldn't stop shaking.

The only person I'd ever told about growing up in a group home was Andre.

But I was never an orphan in the way they meant. My parents, Thomas and Evelyn Blake, gave their lives for the family they served.

And now that old wound had been torn open for everyone to see, bleeding all over again.

I fought back the tears stinging my eyes and said quietly, "Where's Andre? Put him on."

Nora snorted and handed the phone over.

I forced myself to stay calm. "You told them, didn't you?"

Andre was silent for a long time. He didn't deny it.

My eyes burned. "Why would you do that? I told you. I had parents. My parents were heroes who died fighting for the family they served—"

"Was I wrong?" Andre cut me off. He sounded bored, like this was some little thing that had nothing to do with him. "You did grow up in a group home, didn't you?

"And how your parents died? What does that have to do with me? Annie, I think you're being too sensitive. Everyone was just stating facts. Nobody meant to make fun of you."

I stood there, stunned, my eyes still wet. I couldn't say anything else.

Andre finally seemed to notice how upset I was, and his voice softened. "Come on. Everyone was just gossiping. Nobody meant any harm. I already warned them not to spread it around.

"Tomorrow's our anniversary. I booked a table at that French restaurant you've been talking about forever. Wear something pretty."

It took me a long time to find my voice again. "Andre, let's break up..."

I heard an exasperated laugh on the other end.

"Annie, don't take this tantrum too far. Whatever happens, let's at least celebrate our anniversary properly. It's our fifth anniversary—our first five years together. Don't talk about breaking up like it's nothing, okay? It hurts me too."

Right. Our anniversary.

Andre, this is our last one.

I pressed a hand to the dull ache in my chest. I'd made up my mind. Tomorrow, I would go and end things with Andre for good.

I'd also take back what I'd once trusted him to keep.

The next day, Andre sent me the restaurant's address first thing in the morning.

When Andre and I first got together, we'd promised each other we would go to that French restaurant someday.

Back then, Andre wasn't the Don of the Marino family yet. He had no money and no power. There was no way he could get a table at a place that nice.

I used to stare at that restaurant and daydream. I'd even made a birthday wish that we'd eat there someday.

But when I saw how embarrassed Andre was, digging through his pockets for every last dollar, I just smiled, took his face in my hands, and told him, "Let's go get cheeseburgers. I don't want French anymore."

Andre hung his head in shame, and his eyes filled with tears. That year, he swore that once he had money, he'd buy me that restaurant.

Later, he forgot that brash promise he'd made when he was young. It seemed he'd forgotten me too.

I stood outside the restaurant for a long time, still in a daze. I didn't understand how Andre and I had ended up here.

I walked up and gave the hostess the reservation number, only to be told it had been canceled.

People were staring. My face burned as I called Andre, but no matter how many times I tried, I couldn't get through.

It was still snowing hard that day. The hand holding my phone started to shake, and the hostess's expression shifted from friendly to contemptuous.

I called a fifth time. Still no answer. That was it. I couldn't take it anymore. I turned to leave, thinking I'd grab a cab and go home to see what was going on.

But the moment I turned, I saw them through a window across the street. Andre had his arm around Nora, leaning in close as he taught her how to taste wine.

The call finally went through.

I looked down. My voice was cold, but it shook. "Andre, where are you?"

Andre hesitated, sounding a little guilty. "Sorry, Annie. Nora kept pestering me to go somewhere else, and I forgot to tell you we'd changed restaurants. Stay right where you are. I'm coming to get you now."

All that time I'd spent waiting in the freezing wind had just made me look like a fool.

I got into Andre's car, and we finally made it to the restaurant.

He shot Nora a look. Only then did she reluctantly get up.

She pouted, looking thoroughly put out. "Weren't we going to let her stew first and then make her apologize to me?"

Andre's face darkened. "Cut it out," he scolded under his breath. "Today's my anniversary with Annie."

He reached over and patted Nora's cheek as if that were a punishment. But the gesture was pure affection. He wasn't really blaming her at all.

After all that, Andre finally turned to me. "Annie, don't be upset. Nora's young. She doesn't know any better. Just go easy on her."

I looked him in the eye and said evenly, "No. I'm not putting up with this anymore. Let's break up."