“Do you know where he is? You’ve been acting like his best buddy the last few days,” Gianna muttered with a scowl in Fabi’s direction.

He stiffened. “He doesn’t tell me where he goes. And I’m not his best buddy, but as his only son I have responsibilities.”

Gianna stood, and I had no choice but to let her go. “Oh my god, what kind of bullshit is that. I can’t believe it,” she hissed.

“Gianna,” Aria said in warning. “It’s enough. Not here, not right now.”

“It doesn’t matter that Father’s not here,” I said firmly. “We are here for her. We are the most important people in her life, not him.”

That was the last time we mentioned Father that night. Hours passed with Mother’s state staying the same, and occasionally my eyes fell shut, but then her breathing changed.

I sat up in my chair and took her hand. “Mom?” I asked.

Aria was holding her other hand. Gianna didn’t move from her spot in the armchair in the corner. Her legs were pressed up against her chest, her chin resting on her knees. Fabi had fallen asleep with his cheek on the wooden foot of the bed. I reached out and nudged him. He jerked up in his chair.

Mother’s eyelids fluttered like she was going to open them. I held my breath, hoping she’d look at us once more, maybe even say something but then her breathing slowed even more.

I wasn’t sure how much longer it took. I lost any sense of time as I monitored Mother’s chest, the way it barely moved, until it stopped altogether. Fabi ran out to get the nurse, but I didn’t need her to tell me what I already knew; our mother was gone. The nurse moved around us, and then with a sad nod, she disappeared again.

I let go of Mother’s hand, stood from my chair and stepped back. Aria didn’t move, still clutching Mother’s hand. One moment Mother was there and the next she was gone. Just like that a life ended, and with it the dreams and hopes of that person. Life was so short, any moment could be your last. Mother had told me to be happy, but in our world happiness wasn’t something that came by easily.

Aria rested her head on the edge of the bed, sobbing without a sound. Fabi like me stood back. He looked like he couldn’t comprehend what had happened. Gianna walked up to Aria, for the first time in hours moving closer to the bed and put her hand on Aria’s shoulder. She didn’t even glance Mother’s way, and I got it. Gianna’s relationship with our mother had always been difficult and only gotten worse when Mother had accepted how horrible Father had treated Gianna after she’d run away. In the days since her arrival here, Gianna’s feelings had often changed from one second to the other.

After a moment, Aria stood and pressed a kiss to Mother’s forehead. To my surprise, Gianna did the same, though she quickly stepped back from the bed again. I could only stare. I knew I should kiss Mother’s forehead as well as a last goodbye, but I couldn’t bring myself to touch this lifeless corpse. That wasn’t her anymore. That was something empty and lifeless.

I staggered out of the room. My throat was cording up and my eyes were burning. I wanted to run and don’t stop but in the corridor I bumped into Romero. If he hadn’t grabbed my shoulders, I would have toppled over. I gasped for breath. Panic was slowly tightening around my body like a vice.

“Take her away,” Luca ordered. I hadn’t even noticed him.

“What about Aria’s order?”

“I don’t give a damn.”

Romero wrapped an arm around my waist and steered me down the hallway. I was still trying to suck air into my lungs but it was futile. My legs buckled.

“Hey,” Romero said in a soothing voice. “Sit down.” He guided me to the floor and helped me put my head between my legs while he drew calming circles on my back. The feel of his warm hand steadied me.

“Just breathe,” he murmured. “It’s okay.”

His voice pulled me out of the black hole that wanted to consume me and eventually my breathing returned to normal. “She’s dead,” I whispered when I was sure I could speak.

Romero halted in his stroking of my back. “I’m sorry.”

I nodded, fighting back new tears. “Father wasn’t there. I don’t know where he is. He should have been there for her in her last moments!” The anger felt good, better than the sadness.

“Yes, he should have. Maybe Dante called him away.”

I glowered up at Romero. “Dante wouldn’t have done it, not in the middle of the night, not when he knows that our mother is so sick. No, Father didn’t want to be here when Mother died. He barely visited her since she got worse. He’s a selfish bastard and is probably screwing one of his whores right this moment.”

Romero smiled darkly. “I sometimes forget that you’re an adult now and know the ugly sides of our world.”

“You better not forget,” I said. “I know more than all of you think.”

“I don’t doubt it,” he said. For an instant we only stared at each other. I felt calmer now.

“Thanks,” I said simply. Romero pulled his hand away from my back. I wished he hadn’t. His touch had felt good. He straightened and held out his hand. I took it and he pulled me to my feet. The door to Mother’s room opened and Aria stepped out, her eyes zooming in on Romero and me. He let go of my hand, gave me an encouraging smile before he went to Aria to tell her how sorry he was about Mother’s death. Aria nodded but then her eyes darted to me again. Her cheeks were wet with tears. I walked toward her and wrapped my arms around her. Romero took that as his cue to leave but before he turned the corner he glanced over his shoulder and our gazes met. The cold and empty feeling in my chest eased and something warm and more hopeful took its place. Then he disappeared from my view. I almost went after him, but my sisters needed me now. Steps sounded behind us and then Luca was heading our way, lowering his phone from his ear.