Page 37 of Reign Of Triumph
“I’m sorry, baby,” I murmur in her ear. She slowly starts to calm down and lifts her head. Her eyes are red and swollen.
“Mom said she missed Dad and was ready to go. I didn’t want her to leave me,” she whispers. “She loved Dad so much. Mom dealt with so much pain after Dad died. Giusto was horrible to her. He treated Mom like a servant. Then her heart condition happened, and he had no use for her at all. Mom said it was because Giusto didn’t know how to deal with illness and made excuses for him, but inside, she knew her son was a monster.”
“It’s no consolation, babe, because I know how much you loved your mother. I did too. She was a good woman. But now, she’s with your father. They’re together again. She wanted to see you married, and she did. She knows you’re safe with me. She also knows that I love you,” I tell her, palming her cheek. She leans into my hand and closes her eyes.
“I love you too,” she replies. Her lower lip quivers. “She’ll never know her grandchildren. They’ll never know her.”
“We’ll tell them. Every night we’ll tell them a story of their Nonna Vera and Nonno Egidio.”
Suddenly, my mother appears at the door. “Serafina, cara,” she calls, her arms outstretched, and Serafina leaves my lap and runs into her arms. “It’s all right, my dove, we’ll take care of you.” My mother sees her pain and does what a mother does, giving her the love she needs. Mom looks at me, “Eros, they need you downstairs,” she says quietly. “Serafina and I will be down in a little while.”
As I move past them, I kiss Serafina’s temple and my mother’s cheek. “Thanks, Mom.” The words don’t seem like enough, but they’re all I have at the moment.
Downstairs, I see more than Nero and Luciano. Marco and my father are with them. Vincenzo is sitting in the corner with his head in his hands, looking haggard and visibly upset. I know that Marco is our don, but I think I need a word with Vincenzo first.
When he sees me approaching, he gets to his feet. “I let you down. I should have?—”
“Stop,” I state firmly. “You did all you could. Vera was an older woman. She couldn’t run nearly as fast, and they took advantage of that. You could have left her behind the minute she was hit, but you didn’t. You can’t blame yourself.”
“Mrs. Palloma is devastated,” Vincenzo replies with a heavy sigh.
“She loved her mother, as a child should. Her loss is going to hurt; however, Serafina is a strong woman, and although the pain may never go away, time heals.”
“I don’t want Mrs. Palloma to hate me,” he says.
“I’m not sure Serafina is capable of hate.” I give him a small grin. We talk for a few more minutes, and when I send him to collect Danilo, he seems better.
When I turn, I see the others standing close. Marco speaks up. “I’m sorry, Eros. Vera was a good woman,” he says, then adds, “You’re a good leader. Vincenzo needed you, and you gave him time, even though there’s much to be done.”
Nero jumps in next. “The bodies are gone. Everyone in La Famiglia has been informed that Livio is to be delivered to me. He’s been spotted, so it’s only a matter of time.”
“Felicia and Grazia are on their way,” Luciano says. “They want to be here to support Serafina. Thank God, Bianca got tied up at school. We got word to her. She’s on her way back. We thought it best to leave the girls at school until you decide how you want to break the news to them.”
“Thank you. All of you. I don’t want the girls coming back to blood on the walls,” I reply.
“Come home with your mother and me,” my father interjects. “Serafina and the others need family. We’re family. Your mother will enjoy doting on Alia and Anita. It will give you time to get the house back in order and allow things to settle.”
“I’ll check with Serafina,” I begin, then I notice Serafina standing in the doorway with my mother.
“I’d like that,” she says, directing her gaze to my father. Dad goes straight to her, kisses her cheek, and gives her a hug.
“You’re not alone, Serafina,” Dad says.
Marco then moves to Serafina. “La Famiglia is forever your family. Gloria and I are but a phone call away. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us.”
While Serafina is occupied, Nero catches my attention. “The breach means that one of the guards let them in and is working with Livio. I’ve called in a favor with Dante Viale. He’s going to find out who disabled the security at the gate. He’ll pay for his part in this,” he states with conviction.
Serafina agrees to go stay with my parents. The women are busy packing what they need. It’s good to keep Serafina’s mind busy. I don’t delude myself into believing the tears are over, but I will be there when they start all over again.
Twenty
Multiple Funerals
Serafina
Since my mother’s death, Eros has been constantly by my side. He helped me with the funeral arrangements, making sure it was all taken care of. Monica and Armando have been spoiling us all. Monica has taken on the role of surrogate grandmother and is doting on Anita and Alia. They were devastated by the loss of their nonna. They’re both so young to have lost their father and grandmother in such a short period of time.
Bianca and I have spoken about how all the ugliness that has befallen us stems from Giusto. It was his lust for power and greed that caused our family such anguish. My brother was a smug, self-serving asshole, and ultimately, his actions and decisions led to Mom’s death. Bianca was worried that Eros would want to change the living arrangements, but he overheard us talking and responded immediately with “You are not taking our nieces from us. Your home is with us.” He said it in an authoritarian tone, but I know it was just for show.
