Bender — Colleen Charles

My second chance is the biggest gamble of my life.

I am Marco Rossi, once an Italian nobody, now living the dream as a Vegas Venom player. I thought I was swapping my lonely orphan past for a team-family. But I was wrong.

I am on thin ice with everyone, but especially when it comes to Madison McKay.

One disastrous meeting, one accidental insult during a photo shoot, and now she is the principessa who lives rent-free in my head. My clumsy words put me in a hole, and now I cannot dig myself out.

My teammates? More like pranksters, leading me on wild goose chases. And my roommate? Cash Denaro only speaks in three-word sentences. But Madison... she's my second chance.

When I look at her, I already see our future together. She is my soft place to land. I just have to convince her that I am worth another look.

But just as I am making headway, Dante Giovanetti cuts me loose. So I am faced with a choice: return to Italy or figure out a way to stay stateside... legally.

Can I persuade Madison to roll the dice on forever? Or am I heading back to Italia alone?