Page 230 of Ricardo

“You called for help. You stayed with him. You pressed on the wound. You did what you could.”

“I was so scared.”

“I know.”

Her eyes lift to mine, shattered. “I thought I was going to watch him die.”

I cannot answer that. Physically, I cannot answer it.

So I pull her forward and press my forehead to hers.

For one moment, I let myself breathe her in.

Then footsteps move fast down the hall.

Mario arrives first.

His tuxedo is still perfect, but his face is no longer cordial and polite. Victoria is beside him, one hand gripping Mario’s arm. Her color drains when she sees Julia.

“Dante?” Mario asks.

“In surgery,” Lorenzo says. “Gunshot wound to the abdomen. Significant blood loss. Alive at last update.”

Victoria makes a small, broken sound and covers her mouth.

Mario’s eyes move to me.

Then to Julia’s dress.

Then to her hands.

Something lethal passes through his face.

He locks it down almost immediately, but not before I see it.

“Julia,” Victoria says, moving toward her.

Julia starts to stand.

Victoria stops her with both hands on her shoulders. “Don’t.”

“I’m sorry,” Julia says again.

“Stop apologizing,” I tell her.

Julia breaks.

Victoria wraps her arms around her carefully, but Julia is too afraid to return the hug with her bloody hands.

Mario watches them for half a second, then turns to me.

“How many?”

“Two, waiting in the apartment,” I say.

“Dead?”

“Julia says Dante took them both out.”