“It’s Rocco’s,” he replied.
I glanced around again with this new information in mind and liked it even more. I wondered where we were — my only experience of New York had been from a car window, going from location to location without ever exploring. The only things I could point out for sure were famous landmarks like Central Park, the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty, none of which I’d visited. My sight landed back on Michael, who was on his phone now, texting.
“Do you know if my mom is safe?”
His eyes snapped to mine. “She is. She had no idea the wedding was moved up, so she’s still out of the country. She’ll be back tomorrow morning.”
My gaze fell on the large coffee table that spanned the middle of the two couches. My throat was so raw that I flinched each time I took a sip of tea. I couldn't stop thinking about the way my father had lied to me. It shouldn't have been a surprise, but it hurt that he'd tried to use my mother against me. He had used Aanya and then my mother against me, but he never tried to use Rocco, which meant he wasn’t aware of us. I set my hand on Gabe’s moving knee and our eyes locked. His were red and watery, reflecting the profound sadness that I felt.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
His lip trembled as he looked at me, and he brought a hand over his mouth as he began to cry again. I pulled away when he set his elbows on his knees and dropped his head. It was incredible how much damage one person could do. I rubbed my brother’s back as he cried, which made him cry harder.
“Gabe, you should shower,” Michael said. My brother shook his head. “It’ll help.”
“Gabe, go.” I stood up and pulled his arm.
He wiped his face and stood. Michael stood and walked him to a room downstairs. I folded my legs under me and wrapped myself in the blanket, closing it tightly around me. Michael walked over and sat in the same place he’d been.
“Do you think he’s dead already?” I asked.
Michael sighed heavily. “I don’t know.”
“I hope he is.” I blinked away the new wave of tears that threatened. “I really hope he is.”
He remained silent. Just like Rocco, he wouldn't say a word if I talked badly about my father. They were good men. There was no doubt in my mind that if the situation had been reversed, my father would have attacked their characters without a second thought.
“Are Rosie and Emma safe?” I asked. “Cat?”
“Everyone is safe.” He offered a comforting smile.
I held the blanket tighter. He looked so much like his brother right now. Maybe because they were both dressed in all black.
“Do you want to speak to your mom?” he asked after a moment.
“Can I?”
“Of course.” He pulled out his phone and scrolled, pushing a button and putting it up to his ear. “Ro. Hey, no, we’re fine. Lenora wants to speak to Sofia. Okay.” He handed the phone over to me. I held my wrist with my other hand to keep it from shaking as I set it to my ear.
“Nora.” My mother’s voice broke into a sob and I could no longer control my own.
“He made me think he’d kidnapped you because you helped me run away,” I managed between loud sobs. “He made me think I’d never see you again.”
She sniffled. “Is he. . .”
“I don’t know.” I wiped under my nose with the back of my hand. “I think so. If not, he will be.”
She remained silent.
“I’m so sorry, Mami.”
“Sorry for what? I should have been there.”
“You couldn’t have been here.” I took a shaky breath. “He killed Gabe and Dominic’s mom.” A pained sob left her mouth and hit my heart directly. “He killed Rosie’s mom too. And Rocco and Michael’s.”
She cried louder. I swallowed back my own tears and my throat hurt twice as much.
“At the church,” I continued, “he used me as a human shield so he wouldn’t get shot.”
