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“I should probably check with Marco.” Frankie left Rosa and me alone, a nearly empty bottle of wine between us.
“You really aren’t pregnant,” Rosa slurred, pointing her glass at me.
Taking a healthy swig, I fortified myself for what was sure to be a fucking nightmarish conversation. “Nope.”
“You tried to tell me.”
“Yep.”
“I should fucking kill you.”
“Why? Because your piece of shit husband tried to kill me, and I defended myself?” Her mouth fell open, but no words came out. “Or because your son loves me so much, he helped me hide it?” Based on the stark red staining her cheeks, I figured I was two seconds from being shot between the eyes. Why not go out with a bang? “I have literally fought for my place in your son’s life—for a place in this fucking family. The only way you’re getting rid of me is in a body bag. So, go for it. Kill me and explain to your son why you snuffed me out.”
Wineglass in hand, I dramatically held my arms out, waiting for her final verdict.
Rosa slowly closed her mouth, her lips pressing together and her eyes narrowing. For a minute, she inspected me and then abruptly pushed her chair back. “I’ve always admired your honesty. It’s something my Luca needs in his life.”
She rounded the table and gestured for me to stand. Swallowing back the ball of fear sitting in my throat, I gracefully stood, arms still extended like I was ready to be sacrificed.
Rosa’s eyes shined as she clenched her jaw. “You were the answer to my prayers. But you killed my Dante.”
“I know.”
“He tried to kill you.”
My stomach twisted. Rosa weighed her options while staring me in the eye. “He did.”
“I miss him.” A tear rolled down her cheek.
My chin trembled. “I know.” I reached out to hug her and was met with her palm cracking against my cheek. The wineglass fell from my hand as it flew to my face, my fingers prodding the smarting skin. “Rosa?”
She took a step back, running her fingers through her perfect hair. Strands fell around her face as she reached under the table.
“Rosa?” My voice shook as she pulled a gun out of thin air.
Slamming it on the table, she dropped her chin to her chest. “Why did you go to that room that night?”
I stared at the gun, struggling to find my words. Glass crunched under my heel as I took a nervous step to the side. Rosa swung toward the sound, and I held my hands up in defense. I pushed back the urge to cower in fear and rushed out, “Luca texted me, and I—”
“You’re telling me you didn’t know it was Dante?”
“N-No. I thought it was Luca. I thought he changed his mind about us, but when I got there, Dante ambushed me.”
Rosa let out a humorless laugh and straightened, her hand tightening around the gun handle. “And I believe you.” She pounded her chest with the gun. “But what am I supposed to do with all this pain? I’m in hell. I miss him every—” She shook her head, dragging her teeth over her upper lip. “When I got that video, it was like I finally had somewhere to put all the ugly.” She pointed the barrel at me carelessly. “You. I could do what I’d been brought up to do. Get even. You take the love of my life—I take your life.”
I nodded, silent tears streaming down my face as Rosa broke down.
“The problem is my son loves you so much he’s willing to betray his family. I have no doubt I wouldn’t live to see tomorrow if I killed you.”
The ease and comfort she had while speaking about both of our deaths made my whole body shake.
Rosa sobbed out a laugh. “Who am I kidding? I love you like you’re my own. You’re exactly what this family needs. Exactly what Luca needs.” She gestured toward me and lost grip on the handle. The gun fell from her hand and went off, the bullet hitting the wall behind me.
I dove in the other direction, my hip hitting the table and knocking the bottle of wine on the floor. “Fuck!”
Not a minute later, Marco and Frankie rushed into the room.
“What’s going on in here?” Marco took a quick inventory of the scene, eventually falling on the gun. With a scoff, he scooped it up.
