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We stop in front of our house, and I already know this is a bad sign. He should be in a hospital. Who cares if the world suspects him as a mafia boss?
Aria is on my heels as I run into the house. “He’s asking for you, Katrina,” my mother says. Her eyes are red and swollen.
I walk into the room, and the doctor comes toward me. “You need to say your goodbyes.”
My feet refuse to move. Aria should be in here before me. Tears run down my face. Somehow, I find the courage to move to his side. I take his hand, and his eyes flutter open. He opens his mouth and squeezes my hand. He never gets the chance to even say my name before his hand goes weak.
“Daddy, I still need you. Don’t you dare die on me. You are the glue that holds this family together.” I cry harder. Ugly sobs escape my chest as tears flood my cheeks, their saltiness dripping into my mouth as I sob hysterically.
“Father?” Aria’s soft voice is behind me.
The doctor checks his pulse as he looks at the clock on the wall. After a minute, he pronounces him dead.
“I never got to say goodbye,” Aria cries beside me.
“We will avenge your death,” my brother proclaims, and he consoles my sister.
Soon, my entire family is beside me. Everyone but Luna. I can’t lose her too. Silently, I make a vow to the devil. Because we know the heavens haven’t answered me yet. If Luna makes it through, I will stop the war. There will be no more blood because of me.
Chapter 11: Katrina
Iwearblackfromhead to toe. One week ago, my father died. Luna is still in a medically induced coma. Not only is she battling her injuries, but she now also has an infection. My mother’s sobs are all I can hear as they lower my father’s casket.
I keep hearing her say that they should have taken her instead. She hasn’t eaten or slept since they declared him dead. I believe she already views her life as over. Our father was her world. And now it’s been ripped from her.
She clutches at her chest, and I try to place my arm around her. “Don’t you dare, Katrina,” she yells at me before crying harder. She falls to her knees. “I don’t know how to go on!”
I’m only trying to help.
“You know enough to realize this year has been hard, Katrina,” my brother scolds me as he picks up my frail-looking mother.
“Luca, you have always been my good boy.”
No one has ever referred to me as good. “I only wanted to help.”
“Then get your life in order. Stop being a child and acting like the world owes you a favor.” He looks down at my huge belly. “Do you want me to organize an arranged marriage? It would help your situation.”
My situation. My hand goes to my stomach.
I watch as Luca guides my mother closer to the grave, and she tosses a rose into the hole. Our entire community has come to pay their respects to her and talk business with the new don, my brother. It makes me sick they would use a time like this to conduct their dealings and show allegiance to Luca.
I walk away from my family. No one questions where I’m going. They’re like one solid unit, unified. No one misses me. I stop at the top of a hill, a lone tree to my right.
“Soon, your brother will be pulled away due to his ports being blocked from him,” Demetri’s gravelly voice comes from behind me. “You’re welcome.” His lips brush my ear.
“Why are you doing this?” I turn to face him.
He towers over me. “Should I tell him he can’t conduct his business because of you?” His finger collects my tears across my cheek before placing its tip into his mouth.
I glance back at my brother and all his admirers around him. “I remember the day they brought Luca home and said he was one of us now. He must have been around the age of ten. Earlier that day, I had gotten in trouble once again for doing something I wasn’t supposed to.” I shake my head and look up at Demetri. “Some habits never die.” I blow out a breath, trying not to be an emotional wreck. “I remember my mother telling me that she couldn’t deal with me anymore. My father came out of his office and yelled at me. It was the first time he ever raised his voice. When he came home later that day, he had Luca with him and told us he was to be our family. I remember thinking they were so mad at me they had to replace me with a boy.”
“Maybe this will be the last straw. Do you ever wonder just how much further you can go before they throw you away?”
“Why are you doing this?” I repeat.
“Because it makes me happy. Just remember, all of your tears are mine.” He leans down and places a soft kiss on my lips. “This is only the beginning, Katrina.”
I fight off a new wave of tears as Demetri laughs, looking over my head as the funeral ends.
