“Oh, you’re a blessing, Rom,” she panted, pulling out a handkerchief to dab her forehead. Her face was flushed from exertion. “I wanted to get him something to mark the occasion. I wasn’t sure I’d make it up here with that thing.”
“Where’s your husband?” Cos asked.
“He’s under the weather,” she said. “Told him to sleep it off instead of spreading his flu to everyone.”
I nodded at the tree. “We’ll take this to Dad’s office for you.”
She gave me a quick smile, but her attention seemed elsewhere. Her eyes flicked between me and the party behind me. “Thanks. I’ve got to grab a tray of ziti from the car. I’ll be right back.” She hurried out toward the foyer, glancing back once before disappearing down the hall.
The tree was heavier than it looked. Cosimo held the office door open for me as I hauled it in and set it on an empty spot on the windowsill between the other bonsais already there. We were about to leave when Dad walked in, Alessio behind him.
Dad’s gaze went straight to the tree. “What’s this?”
“A gift from Zia Lisa,” I replied, stepping aside to give him room.
A faint smile tugged at his mouth. He approached the tree, inspected it briefly, then turned to us. “Sit down,” he said, gesturing to the sofas. “I need to have a word with you boys.”
Cosimo and I exchanged a look. This had to be about the Santoros.
Finally, we were going to get some answers.
“Anyone need a drink?” I asked. When no one replied, I walked to the small bar in the corner and grabbed a glass. The tumblers Dad broke a few days ago had been replaced.
Les and Cos sat down, but Dad stayed by the window, his hands resting on the sill as he stared at his precious trees.
A foot tapped against the floor. Cosimo probably. I got the sense he was annoyed by this secrecy when he was the one who'd closed the Colombian deal.
I leaned back against the wall, drink in hand, not in the mood to sit.
Seconds ticked by.
Dad was sure as hell taking his time.
“As you all know by now, it was the Santoros trying to sabotage the Colombian deal,” he finally said. “There’s something I need to tell you about that family.”
I took a sip and?—
BOOM.
The world cracked open. The air turned solid, slamming into me like a crushing wave. My ears screamed—no, roared—until everything cut out, leaving behind a ringing so sharp it felt like blades slicing through my skull.
Heat clawed at my skin. I was on the floor. My palms pressed into something jagged—glass? I couldn’t tell. Everything around me was engulfed in smoke.
Move. You need to move.
A dark form appeared next to me.
“Rom, you okay?”
It was Cos. He kneeled beside me, his gun already drawn, his face covered in blood. Behind him, our uncles and cousins were swarming into the room, shouting in confusion.
“Fine,” I choked out, coughing. “What happened?”
“A bomb. Can you stand up? Alessio’s out cold.”
I grabbed his arm and forced myself to my feet. The ringing in my ears had softened enough for me to hear the chaos coming from outside the room.
Cosimo tugged me forward until my feet bumped against something soft.
