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“Don’t leave the house, just wait for my call.”
That evening, I had what we absolutely needed packed in two bags. I took all the jewelry and the spare gun he kept in the nightside table. Then I remembered something important. I rushed around to Theo’s closet and quickly spun the dial on the safe and snagged the family ring that had Alessia’s birthdate on it along with the teddy bear necklace. They were her birthright, after all, and I had every right to take them.
Oscar helped me and Alessia into the car then went back for our things. When he returned, he had Ugo, Theo’s teenage nephew, with him. I knew he’d had his fair share of problems in that house, so I didn’t blame him for coming. His mother was merely a shell of a person.
“I can’t stay here either,” he sighed, “and you could use me.”
“Very well.” I handed him the baby while I pressed a hand to my racing chest.
Oscar drove for miles to the house Francesco had found for us. Before he left, he gave us strict instructions not to go out, to keep the front lights off, and not to make any calls no matter what. Little did I know that wasn’t to be the scariest night of my life…that night would come a week later.
“Elenora.” Oscar’s voice drew me out of my thoughts. He stood several feet away as he spoke. “Ugo called. He said Sienna is in the city with Rosa. He was vague on the details, but she’s fine.”
“Was that so hard for him to do?” I sneered at him.
“No, ma’am. I suppose it shouldn’t be that hard for people to tell you the truth, but yet it is.”
I dug around in my purse. “You’ve got the valet ticket, not me.”
“Right,” he patted his pocket, “I’ll go get the car, drop you off. I’ve some things to do.”
“Did Ugo get hold of Elio?”
“Not immediately. He didn’t answer. But he called back right after.”
My blood boiled, and I knew I had hit my limit with that family. “How nice I was second in line for a call.”
Nonna’s cane squeaked on the polished floor as she hurried down the aisle.
“Where are you going?” I called out behind her. “Don’t walk away from me. We’re not finished here.”
“Oh, dear, we are far from finished here.” She picked up speed and soon reached the big wooden door and pulled on the handle. I was on her heels as we both stepped out onto the top step. The rest was a blur, it all happened so fast.
“You have crossed this family!” Pippo yelled from a car window as it screeched to a stop in front of the church.
One by one, the uncles piled out, looking fit to kill. It was clear they were coming to stop Nonna Rosa, but they were too late.
Nonna put her hand on my arm to delay me. “Stop.”
Pippo’s face was red as he began to take the steps. “Rosa, how could you—”
I couldn’t hear the rest over the scream of tires rounding the corner. When the motor geared down and the window descended, I felt my stomach bottom out. Salvo appeared from nowhere and pulled us both back into the church.
Every bullet that hit the building vibrated through my chest. The stained-glass window next to us exploded like a ball of glitter tossed into the air by a child. I felt Salvo’s body as it bowed above me to protect me from the glass.
Then it was over, and everything went quiet.
I wiggled out of Salvo’s hold, scrambled to my feet, then slipped on some of the glass. I felt a few pieces nip at my skin and was almost happy I could feel.
“Stay down!” Salvo ordered, but I needed to see what happened.
“Oh, my God.” My hands flew to my mouth as I took in the bloodbath at the bottom of the stairs. Pippo was slumped over Lotto, their bodies shredded by bullets. Betto lay a little farther away and was recognizable only by his clothing.
Salvo dragged me down the steps and pushed me into the car as he yelled at the driver to get me out of there and take me to the house.
I strained my neck to look back at Nonna, who still stood at the top of the stairs, both hands resting on the top of her cane. She gave me a strange look as the door slammed shut and the car took off.
What the hell was happening?
