Don’t Let Go

41. Aurora

41

Aurora

Rory was in the shower as I brushed my teeth. Her phone rang in the bedroom.

“Your phone’s ringing,” I told her.

She peeked her head out of the black and white checkered shower curtain. “Who is it?”

I padded over to where her phone was charged on the nightstand. “It’s Carmen.”

“Answer it!” she shouted, turning off the water.

I hit answer and jogged over to hand Rory the phone.

“Hello?” she said, stepping out of the shower. Her face turned ashen as she ripped the white towel off the back of the bathroom door. “What’s wrong? I can’t understand you,” she said into the phone as she pushed past me into the bedroom.

Rory gathered her clothes in a rush. She put on her bra and dress in a flash. “Okay. Okay. I’m on my way!”

Rory hung up and put her phone into her bra. “Where are my shoes?” she asked, looking around in a panic.

“Over there,” I said, pointing toward the window.

“What are you doing? Get dressed! We need to go!”

“Alright.” I located my boxers and pants, pulling them on. “Where’s the fire?”

“My mamma. She’s in the hospital. We need to go.” Rory stepped into her shoes and grabbed the Charger’s keys as I got dressed as quickly as possible. Her wet hair dripped everywhere, soaking her shirt, but she didn’t care.

We were out the door when I asked, “What happened?”

“I’m not sure. I couldn’t understand Carmen, but something about mamma being shot.”

“Oh, shit,” I said. “Do you think it was Paolo?”

Rory unlocked the Charger and got in, starting it right away. “I don’t know. I need to get down there.”

She put the car in reverse and was already moving down the driveway before I had my right leg in the car and shut the door.

“Your mom will be okay,” I said, hoping it wasn’t a lie.

She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel and stared at the road with so much concentration that I didn’t think she blinked. “She has to be. I can’t lose someone else I love,” she whispered. That darkness was cast over her face again.

If her mother died, I didn’t think I’d get Rory back. She’d fall into the darkness within and become nothing but a soulless being hell-bent on vengeance and destruction.

As soon as the elevator door opened, my legs propelled me forward. The back of my mind knew this hospital, leading me toward the nurse’s station. The short brunette nurse with a button nose looked up at me in alarm from her computer. She held a hand over her heart. “You came out of nowhere. You scared me.”

“My mamma. I need to find her. Sofia Giordano,” I said breathlessly, looking to my left and right, trying to locate one of my siblings.

“Let me look her up.” She typed on her computer. “Sofia Giordano is in the ICU, room 301.” She pointed down the hall. “It’s a few yards that way. You’ll see a security door to your left.”

“Thanks!” I shouted over my shoulder, running down the hallway and darting past an elderly woman being pushed in a wheelchair by a man a few decades younger than her.

“Rory! Wait for me!” Tyler yelled. He was somewhere behind me, but I had no time to wait. I needed to be at my mamma’s side.

My palm slammed the red button by the steel door. “I’m Sofia Giordano’s daughter,” I said into the speaker. The door made a buzzing sound, and I pushed it open.

Tyler barely made it inside before the door closed.

I saw Carmen with her face buried in Lorenzo’s chest as he hugged her tightly. Franco stepped out of the room and looked over at me. He set his jaw and shoved his hands in his pockets, remaining silent.

Tyler grabbed my arm, pulling me toward him and away from the nurse’s cart I almost crashed into. “Be careful,” he said.

“I’m fine,” I rushed over to my siblings. “What’s going on?”

“Where have you been?” Franco demanded, narrowing his eyes.

I side-eyed Tyler, not knowing if news about Paolo had spread yet. “It doesn’t matter. I’m here now.” I stepped around him to peek into Mamma’s room. “How is she?”

Carmen sniffed and shoved a finger into my chest. “Like you care. This is all your fault. I heard what happened. You pissed off Paolo and—” her voice faded as she had another breakdown.

Lorenzo coaxed her back to weep on his chest. “Shh, I got you,” he said repeatedly in a soft voice.

My blood froze in my veins. Do they know what I have done? Did the mob already give the green light to take me out?

“I—I—” I felt like my brain had a mini-stroke and couldn’t string together sentences anymore.

Paolo couldn’t have shot Mamma. Not after I blew his kneecap off.

“Who—who shot her?” I whispered, choking on a sob.

Lorenzo sighed. The bags under his eyes gave away how tired and stressed he’s been. “Paolo's cousin, Marcos. He gave a short message to Mamma about you after he—” He dropped the sentence, hugging Carmen tighter as she whimpered.

Franco patted Lorenzo’s shoulder.

“What happened, Rory?” Franco asked, taking a step forward. “Mr. Dickson was here earlier looking for you. He said you were needed for questioning after Paolo was wounded and his cousin, Vincenzo, was fatally shot.” He put his hands on my shoulders. “I should’ve seen your pain. I should’ve listened, and now…”

My eyes burned with unshed tears, but I was done crying. I swallowed the lump in my throat and said, “I—I didn’t mean to. I did it for…for Lizzy,” I was tongue-tied, and my legs felt weak as if my weight had tripled, and my knees buckled under the pressure.

Tyler put his hand on my lower back. “Rory, you’re going—”

Tyler’s words tuned out as I focused on a voice in the distance. It sounded like my mamma but so light and fragile, like painted glass teetering on the edge after a wind storm.

“Mamma?” I shouldered past Franco and entered her room. It was dim, but I could make out her shape under the white sheet. She looked washed out in her face as if her skin hadn’t seen the sunlight in years, and her cheekbones stuck out more than usual.

“Fiore mio, come here,” she whispered, trying to wave me closer, but couldn’t use the full function of her left arm.

“Yes, Mamma?” I said, moving to her side. I took her hand in mine and fought back my tears. I wanted to feel my mamma’s warmth on my skin. Her touch always made me feel loved and safe, but now she felt like ice.

I rubbed my nose with the back of my hand. The more I fought my tears, the more they burned the back of my throat. “What happened?” I whispered.

“Marcos jumped me when I was finishing a job. He said it was revenge for what you did to Paolo and for taking Vincenzo’s life. Please tell me he’s wrong.” She squeezed my hand tight.

My teeth sank into my lip to stop its trembling. “I’m sorry. He needed to pay. I wasn’t thinking.” I hung my head in shame.

She grabbed my arm with her hand, pulling me closer. “I understand, but you’re so foolish.”

“Are you okay?” I asked, looking over at the IV drip to avoid the worry in her eyes.

“No permanent damage, I’ll heal. I’m more worried about you.” She tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “My fiore mio shouldn’t be out for blood.”

“Mamma, I snapped,” I said, sitting on the edge of her bed. “After seeing the police video, it confirmed what I believed and I—”

“You saw Paolo kill Lizzy. I know you miss her. God, I miss her so much.” She sobbed, taking a ragged breath. “You went too far. Mr. Dickson was looking for you. I tried to avert him the best I could.”

I gently lied down next to her. She moved over a little, making room for me.

Mamma played with my hair, twirling the ends around her slender fingers. “You need to get out of town. Once Italy gets word of this, I can’t save you.”

“No. I need to face this,” I said, hugging my mamma as tightly as I could without messing with her IV. “I know what Paolo is into. He’s the one betraying the mob with the Mexican cartel.”

She kissed my forehead. “Don’t do this. He’s blood. You’ll be sacrificing yourself for no reason.”

“Mamma, I have to.” I stood and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “I’m not going to run and allow them to hurt anyone else I love. There is proof Paolo killed Lizzy, and there must be proof he’s a trader.”

“Aurora, I wish you’d take my advice, but if you must go, then please be careful.” She reached for her water cup with a shaky hand.

“Allow me,” I said, grabbing the cup and holding it for her so she could get a drink using the bendy straw.

“Trust me. I’ll be okay.” I put Mamma’s cup back on the table. “I love you, Mamma. I’ll come back to visit after I see them.”

Mamma kissed the back of my hand and then squeezed my fingers firmly. She looked up at me as if I had explosives tied to my chest, and the timer was down to the single digits. “I love you too, Fiore mio. Please, Lord, protect her.” She let me go and made a whimpering sound.

If I didn’t know any better, she was saying her final goodbye to me.

“I’ll come back,” I promised, opening the door to leave.

“I know,” Mamma replied, giving me a weak smile.

God, I prayed we weren’t lying through our teeth. Maybe I was a dead girl walking no matter what.

“What’s going on?” Tyler asked as soon as I closed her door.

I poked Tyler in the chest. “We’re going on a trip. You ready to meet the Phoenix branch of the Italian mob?”

Tyler looked around with wide eyes. “Shh! Do you want everyone to hear?”

“People don’t listen.” I looked around the hall. “Where did everyone go?”

“They said something about getting food.” He nodded toward the exit.

“I guess it’s better this way.” I rolled my neck and walked toward the door we entered through. “Come on. Let’s go see if Mr. Dickson wants to talk or kill me.”

“Great. My kind of road trip,” Tyler mocked, forcing a laugh.

As we left the ICU and walked toward the main exit Tyler hooked his arm with mine. “You’re not alone in this. I’ll be beside you always.”

For a brief second, I rested my head on his shoulder. “Thanks. I could use someone in my corner right now.”

The sun was blinding as we walked outside. Inside the car, I took a few seconds to collect my thoughts. After all, I could be driving to my death. I needed to think positively. I needed a clean slate. It was Paolo to blame. He betrayed the mob. He told Jacob to kill Tyler’s papà. He was the gum on the bottom of my shoe I couldn’t get rid of.

At times like these, I wished I had my papà. He’d have words of wisdom. He would’ve seen my behavior escalating and stopped me before I blew up. Right now, all I cared about was my mamma and my siblings’ safety. If that meant I had to die, then I had to die.

“Let me do all the talking, okay?” I pulled open the door to the warehouse. About ten men in business attire talked in hushed tones when we entered. They stopped as soon as they spotted us.

It was so quiet, the door closing with a soft click spooked me.

Mr. Dickson sat down his whiskey glass and waved me over. “Good to see you, Aurora. Have a seat.” He gestured to one of the two chairs in front of the men.

I nodded, doing as I was told. Tyler shadowed me, standing behind me when I sat.

Mr. Dickson stared at me for a good minute before looking at Tyler. “Please take a seat next to her.”

Tyler was reluctant, but after a beat, he settled down beside me. He kept bouncing his right leg nonstop as if he was pumping an air bed with his foot. I rested my hand on his knee, and he stopped the movement.

“You left quite a mess. Didn’t you?” Mr. Dickson said, pacing the room. The other men stood around us, and some leaned their shoulders against a nearby wall. I think if we moved too fast, they’d draw a gun quicker than we could say our last words.

“I didn’t mean—”

Mr. Dickson raised his hand, silencing my tongue. “Enough,” he said, motioning to a large black man to his left. “Michael here cleaned it up for you, and he uncovered something interesting. Do you know what that might be?”

I sucked in my teeth. I wasn’t sure if this was a trap or not. “About Paolo?” I dared to take a stab in the dark.

Mr. Dickson nodded. “Indeed. Michael, care to share?”

Michael turned his head to the side, popping his neck. “I was transporting Vincenzo’s body when I heard a phone. It was odd because I already discarded his cell. Turned out he had a second one, and it was blowing up. He and Paolo were late for a deal. Looked like it was with the Mexican cartel.”

Mr. Dickson patted Michael on the shoulder as if he was a dog who did a great service. “Know anything about the cartel, Aurora?”

Sweat beads formed on my forehead. I had to tell them the truth, but I didn’t know they were already onto the cartel. “Yes. Paolo and his cousins are with the cartel. Doing backhanded deals, it seemed like.”

“You assisted them?” Mr. Dickson asked, folding his arms across his chest and lifting an eyebrow.

“No!” I shouted too loudly. My voice echoed back against the empty space. I swallowed my fear and shook my head. “No,” I said softly.

The men around us shifted, not liking I raised my voice in alarm.

Mr. Dickson ran a hand over his chin. “What do you know?”

Tyler looked at me and his eyes were wide with horror. He must be scared shitless.

“Umm, Vincenzo showed up at my house not that long ago and said he needed my help. I went with him because he had a gun. He threatened to come inside if I refused and my sisters were home. He said Paolo claimed I was good for it, but I never did anything with Paolo. I didn’t even go on runs with him to supply his dealers.”

“Dealers?” Mr. Dickson asked, shoving his hands into his front pockets. “Paolo wasn’t assigned dealers. His job was minimal.”

I shrugged. “He told me he was a big part of the branch here. That he was trusted with a lot of responsibility. I didn’t ask questions.”

“Proceed,” Mr. Dickson ordered in a clipped tone.

“I didn’t want to go, but I went to get Vincenzo away from my sisters. He drove us out to what seemed like the middle of nowhere to an abandoned car shop with luxury cars.”

“What kind of cars?” Michael asked, rubbing his bald head.

“Lamborghini and a Porsche. I was told to drive the Porsche and follow Vincenzo in the Lamborghini.”

“To where?” Mr. Dickson took a step closer. He hung onto every word of my story.

“We drove down this dirt road to meet these Mexican guys who had an eighteen-wheeler to smuggle the cars out. I guess there was a communication error on where to meet up. I got out of the car, and one of the Mexicans pulled a brick of what appeared to be heroin from the rear wheel well of one of the cars.”

“Damn it!” Mr. Dickson cursed, stomping his foot.

My heart leaped into my throat. “After that, I ran and hid the best I could. They abandoned me there.”

Tyler’s gaze seared into my flesh. He was probably piecing together that hellish day when I sent him those texts to come get me and then told him I was fine after realizing he was still busy with his away game.

“I’m sorry. I knew it was wrong to help Vincenzo, but I didn’t want him to hurt my sisters. Then I lost Lizzy, and I learned it was Paolo who pulled the trigger. I lost control. All I saw was red, and I wanted justice. I wanted—”

“Revenge,” Mr. Dickson finished for me.

Tears fell down my cheeks as I nodded. “Yes,” I admitted quietly.

Mr. Dickson clapped his hands and glanced over at Michael. “I think we’re done here. What about you?”

“Indeed,” Michael said, his voice boomed, rattling around in my head.

I stole a look at Tyler. We locked eyes and then looked away. I feared the mob’s retaliation for the crimes I committed and what the punishment might be. I hoped they didn’t harm Tyler.

“I’m sorry. Please don’t hurt—”

Mr. Dickson motioned toward the door. “You’re free to go.”

I stood, and Tyler shadowed me. “Sir?” I was confused.

Two men behind us came and took our chairs away.

“Go. You cleared up a few things for us. We’ll be in touch.”

Tyler put his hand on my arm, his eyes pleading for me to drop it and go.

“What about Paolo?” I dared to ask.

Mr. Dickson ran a hand over his face. “He will be dealt with. Don’t worry about him.”

“Okay,” I said softly, walking toward the door.

“Aurora?” Mr. Dickson’s voice was as rough as sandpaper.

I turned my head.

He straightened his tie. “I hope your mamma feels better. She’s an important part of this family.”

My lips bent into a polite smile. “Thank you.”

Outside, we beelined for the car in case Mr. Dickson decided to change his mind.

“That was creepy as hell,” Tyler said after I started the car.

“Yes. It was, but they didn’t seem as upset about me shooting Paolo and Vincenzo as I thought they’d be.”

Tyler wiped his palms on his jeans. “That’s good. When you were with Vincenzo helping with those cars, was that when—” Tyler caught something or someone with his eye and did a double-take behind him. “No. It can’t be.”

I pulled out of the parking lot onto the street. I tried to look but couldn’t see what piqued his interest. “What?”

Tyler shook his head. “No.”

“What?” I asked, more alarmed than before.

“Over there in the parking lot.” He nodded out the window. “That’s Jacob.”

I hit the brake. We were on the edge of the parking lot near the street. “Do you want to get out?”

“I don’t know. I want answers, but if he killed my parents, I might…” he trailed off, shoving the heels of his hands into his eyes.

“Snap and kill him?” I finished.

He let out a sharp breath. “Yeah.”

My thumbs tapped on the steering wheel. “It’s time to spin that Russian roulette wheel. Are you going to confront him now or never?”

He balled his hands into fists and pressed them against his forehead. “Yes. I want to look him in the eye and ask him why.”

I turned around and stopped a couple of yards from Jacob and the wall of a man leading him toward the warehouse. I knew him as Big Bruce, and he enjoyed cutting people’s heads off who didn’t keep their promises to the mob.

Tyler opened his door and shouted, “Jacob!”

Big Bruce stopped and put a hand up to Tyler. I got out of the car and nodded at Tyler, letting Big Bruce know it was okay for them to talk.

Tyler shook his arms out as if he was about to get into a fight. He moved in front of Jacob, and the coward could only look down at his shoes. I moved closer in case I needed to drag Tyler away so he didn’t get punched out by Big Bruce.

“You snake. My father trusted you! I trusted you! You murdered my parents. Why? Why did you kill them?” Tyler spat on the ground.

Jacob stood mute for a moment then he let out a sigh. “I’m sorry for what I did. Your parents shouldn't be dead. I was tricked…”

Tyler shoved Jacob’s shoulder, making him fall back into Big Bruce, who pushed Jacob forward with his massive chest. “You’re pathetic. You can’t own up to your actions and push the blame on someone else.”

Jacob’s head shot up as if he was hit by lightning. “I was tricked! Paolo claimed the orders were true. I didn’t double-check. I just…” He managed to look at Tyler’s face. “I’m terribly sorry.”

Paolo was good at manipulation, but killing someone on iffy orders wasn’t something anyone could believe. Deep down, Jacob wanted Senator Winston and his wife dead, and only he knew why.

“I don’t forgive you. I hope your death is long and painful.”

Big Bruce thrusted Jacob forward, saying, “That’s where he’s headed now.”

A small smile curled on my lips. I understood Big Bruce’s pun. Jacob was about to lose his head.

“Come on, Ty. You said your peace. Let’s go home.” I touched Tyler’s arm, breaking him from the stare-down he was giving Jacob.

“Yeah, okay.” Tyler hit Jacob in the gut twice with his fist, making Jacob wince forward in pain. “That’s for my parents, you asshole.”

I hooked my arm with Tyler’s, dragging him to the car to keep him from assaulting Jacob further. Big Bruce laughed at Jacob’s expense as they walked toward the warehouse.

Tyler was quiet for the rest of the ride to the hospital. I could only imagine what was going through his mind, seeing the man who killed his parents and knowing he was someone his papà thought of as a colleague and friend.

A little while later, we found our way back to the ICU to visit my mamma again so she could see for herself I wasn’t murdered, not yet anyway.

I put on a happy face for my siblings to hide my worries. I had become an expert in changing masks to conceal my true feelings.

“I’ll let you visit with your mom. I’m going to find some coffee,” Tyler said as we stood in front of her room.

“Okay. I’ll see you later,” I said, hugging him close. Tyler kissed my cheek before releasing me.

“Let’s go to the cafeteria. The coffee up here sucks,” Lorenzo said, hitting Tyler on the shoulder.

I flashed them a brief smile as Lorenzo and Tyler left the ICU with Carmen and Franco behind them.

I opened Mamma’s door. “Hey, Mamma. I’m back.”

“Come here, fiore mio,” she said softly, patting the bed beside her.

I rushed to my mamma’s side, tears already spilling over, and snuggled against her, feeling the comfort in her warmth as she held me tight.

“Mr. Dickson wasn’t upset about Paolo and Vincenzo. He seemed more interested in their affairs with the cartel,” I said, resting my head on her chest.

“Shh, we can talk about that later. I just want to hug you.”

She kissed my forehead. I felt like a little girl again, wanting to sleep in her bed to hide from the monsters in my closet.

“I can do that,” I said, yawning.

My mamma brushed my eyebrows gently and slowly with her fingertip. It made me sleepy. I haven’t slept much since losing Lizzy. My body ran on anger and frustration. Now with that gone, I could rest safely in my mamma’s arms.

Tomorrow was another day to deal with the mob and all the problems stemming from that. Right at this moment, I wanted to pretend to be that little girl again whose mamma could chase away the monsters with a stern word and a loving hug.