Chapter 2

I waited for Cardo all night, but he didn't come back.

At six in the morning, he sent a message saying there was no sign of gang activity near Camilla's place, but Ellie had gotten hurt and he needed to stay and handle it.

At the end of the message, he reminded me to get some sleep.

I didn't reply.

At seven that evening, I arrived early at the restaurant on the Hudson waterfront.

The waiter poured my wine and asked if I wanted to order.

I said I'd wait.

I waited until ten, when Cardo finally called.

"Sweetheart, I'm sorry. Something came up on my end."

In the background, Ellie was crying and Camilla's voice was soft.

"Camilla again?"

A brief silence on the other end.

"Ellie has a fever and seizures. Camilla can't handle it alone. Let's cancel tonight. I'll make it up to you another day."

Then he hung up fast, without waiting for my answer.

I listened to the dial tone and looked down at the carefully wrapped gift box beside me.

Inside was a cloth-bound picture book I'd spent a month making.

Every page was something I'd drawn by hand, the important moments of our seven years.

On the last page, I'd painted a window with two cups of coffee on the sill, and beside it a line in small handwriting:

The eighth year, and every year after.

I had the waiter pack up the book and the unopened bottle, and took a cab to the hospital alone.

The emergency wing was bright as day.

Through the half-open door, I saw Cardo at once.

Camilla was leaning against him, her eyes red.

Ellie was hooked up to an IV. The moment she saw the box in my hands, she sat up straight.

"Uncle Cardo, what's that?"

She didn't call him Don. Dominic just smiled.

Camilla hurried to hold her back.

"Ellie, don't. That belongs to the lady."

Cardo heard and turned. When he saw me, surprise flickered across his face.

"Viv, what are you doing here?"

Then he glanced at the box in my hands and reached out to take it.

"The kid had a scare today. This'll cheer her up."

He said it so naturally, like he was certain I wouldn't refuse.

Before I could speak, he'd already torn off the wrapping and set the book in front of Ellie.

Ellie opened the first page, tilted her head at it for a moment, then suddenly pointed at the two little figures in formal wear. "Who's this?"

Cardo said, "That's Cardo and Vivian."

Ellie frowned.

Then she flipped to the last page, saw the line, and turned to Camilla.

"Mom, what does 'the eighth year' mean?"

Camilla said softly, "It means being together forever."

Ellie's mouth twisted.

"I don't like it."

She grabbed the page and yanked, hard.

The cloth-bound book split down the middle. She tore the last page clean out.

The paper crumpled in her fist. "The eighth year, and every year after" was crushed to nothing.

I went completely still. Camilla covered her mouth.

Cardo glanced down and said, calm as anything, "She's just a kid."

Camilla chimed in, "Donna, she didn't mean to."

I said nothing.

Cardo closed the book, set it aside, and turned back to check Ellie's IV.

I set the box with the anniversary gift on the chair.

"Cardo, I need to talk to you."

He blinked. "Now?"

"Yes. Now."

Camilla quickly shifted aside with Ellie in her arms.

"Go be with Donna. She came all this way just for you."

But Ellie clutched Cardo's sleeve and whined that it hurt.

Cardo bent at once to check her IV. After confirming there was no blood backing up, he turned back to me.

"Why did you come here?"

I touched my belly and said quietly, "It's our anniversary today. I just came to see who you chose to spend it with."

The room went silent for a beat.

Camilla seemed to snap back to herself then, and stood up with red eyes.

"Donna, are you misunderstanding something?"

"Ellie got sick so suddenly today. I really didn't know who else to call, so I called him."

She lowered her head, her voice thickening with tears.

"If you're leaving because of me, I'll leave the Falcone family. I don't need Cardo's protection, ever. I'll take Ellie back to Marco's hometown and never trouble him again."

At that, Ellie panicked and clung to her.

"Mom, I don't wanna go back."

Camilla pulled the child into her arms, tears falling.

"Don't be scared. Mom will figure something out."

Cardo's face went completely dark.

"Viv, don't be unreasonable."

"Ellie just got out of the ER. Everyone's exhausted. You really want to use leaving to force me home right now?"

His eyes were full of disappointment.

"I know standing you up tonight was my fault, but lives are at stake here. Do you have to make a scene right now?"

Camilla kept her head down, holding Ellie tight.

Like I was the real villain in that room.

When I still didn't say anything, Cardo's tone softened.

"You're not in a good place right now. Go home and cool off. We'll talk when I get back."

I looked at that familiar face and suddenly had no desire to argue.

So I turned and walked out.

The door of the infusion room swung shut behind me. I looked back.

Cardo was pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and handing it to Camilla. She wiped her tears and leaned helplessly against his shoulder.

Ellie had one hand in Cardo's and the other fisted in Camilla's skirt.

They looked like a real family.

I took out my phone and booked a flight to San Francisco three days out.

When the hospital doors closed behind me, our second-to-last meeting was over.

Cardo and I had only one meeting left.