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I watchthe seconds tick by on the clock on the wall. Frankie clears his throat opposite me. Two hours, forty-five minutes and thirty seconds since Keller and Grayson took Luca into the operating room.
I tear my stare from the minute hand to my uncle, who is now in fresh clothing and has one less bullet in his body.
“How are you so calm?” I ask, the silence becoming deafening.
“A lot of practice over the years.”
“Oh.” I take another small sip of my coffee.
“I will avenge her death, Rosa,” he says quietly.
I nod and look at the coffee swirling around in my mug. I can’t even comprehend she is really gone. I’ll never get to see my sister again. I’ll never get to hug her, to hear her laugh.
He can avenge her death all he likes. It doesn’t change the fact she’s never coming home.
I don’t have words or energy right now. “How did she die?”
“It was quick. That’s all you need to know.” He rubs a hand over his face, pulling out a packet of cigarettes from his pocket, sliding one across the table to me.
“I could do with something else, but I guess this will do.” I shrug and pick it up.
“Rosa.” His voice is stern.
“What?”
“You aren’t going back there. Don’t even consider it.”
“I said I could do with it, not that I am,” I snap back.
We head outside. I plonk myself down on the seat and tip my head back to look up at the stars. Taking in a deep inhale, tears pool in my eyes as I remember the nights with Luca, doing just this.
“This is such a mess. I should have just told Luca at the start. They killed Eva, anyway. It was all for nothing.” I take another shaky drag.
“You did the right thing, Rosa. You protected your family. You were looking out for Luca, for us. You lived with that monster for weeks. The blame is all on Romano, not you. You have to stop thinking like that. I saw the fearless Rosa you became, the girl I watched grow up. Be that woman. Don’t lose your fight. Not now.”
Frankie is right, I have a choice. I can either let this break me or I fight for what I do have left. Luca needs me to be strong. And, deep down, I think I knew I wasn’t going to see Eva again. Since the night before the wedding.
My life has been surrounded by death.
The door slides open and Grayson walks out, a somber look on his face.
I sit upright in my chair, rubbing my hands on my knees.
“Is he okay?” Frankie asks, offering Grayson his pack.
“Yes. He’s going to be fine.” Grayson pulls a cigarette out, then digs out a lighter.
I let out a gush of air, covering my face with my hands as relief washes over me.
The flame illuminates his face. “He managed to stop the internal bleeding and stitch up the stab wounds. We will need to keep an eye on infections. Other than that, he will make a full recovery.”
“Can I go and see him?” I throw my cigarette in the ashtray and jump off my seat.
Grayson nods, then looks at Frankie. “We need to talk.”
Frankie stands, dusting off his pants. “Let’s go.”
“He’s in the first bedroom on the left for now,” Grayson says to me, his arm resting up on the door.
