Chapter 10

Mrs. Romero sat beside me in the garden’s patio, watching Leon, Michael, and Nathan have fun with their new ball. They had scarfed down their cake in seconds and had gone to play, leaving us in each other’s company.

I stole a quick glance at her.

Mrs. Romero was reclined in her chair, completely captivated with my sons playing. Her slice of strawberry and vanilla cake and cup of Earl grey tea were untouched. She just sat in silence, staring at them with a soft, contended smile on her face.

I wanted to strike up a conversation, but the fact that she was Dante’s mother stopped the right words from forming in my brain. What could I say to the mother of the man who hates me?

Nothing I could think of.

Especially when my brain was muddled and trying to process what had happened today.

I still felt the wind of the bullet gaze at my shoulder.

My clammy fingers raised my glass cup to my lips, and I took a sip of my orange juice. The cold, sweet liquid running down my throat did nothing to