Flashback Continued . . .

"Orders are in. You're to leave now."

I jerked awake to the thunderous voice and jumped out of bed in defense only to be faced by one of my father's men.

          "What are you doing?" The lights made my eyes squint as I looked at the clock. "It's four in the fucking morning. I'm not supposed to train yet."

          "I think you do require some training since you're just standing there like a fool," he snarled, tossing my pillow aside to reveal the knife I kept there. "Without your weapon. You'd be dead if I were the enemy. Just get ready for now."

I glared at the man who had the balls to talk to me like that. Fucking Jacopo. He had been a loyal soldier to the Bonferroni clan for ages. He was one of the very few people apart from the family who could give me shit like that and not face consequences.

          When the power would be handed down to me, I'd rip the very few hairs Jacopo had left along with his stupid fucking mustache and feed it to him in a sandwich made up from the meat of his gut. This stronzo would die!

         "Where am I going?" I barked out the words after I slid on the pants and grabbed a dress shirt from the chair in my room I had tossed it on earlier. "Where's Luciano?"

"He already left." Jacopo threw a suit jacket at my face. Bastardo! I was definitely going to make him pay one day. "We're going to London. Your father has summoned you both there."

I stopped in my tracks and stared at him. My anger was quickly replaced with worry, but I knew better than to let it show. "Is it Mamma?"

After being kicked out of our parents' room, Luci and I had been kept away and sent to our rooms. I couldn't rest after what I saw. Her blood everywhere. Sickness all around her. She wasn't herself. And it kept replaying in my head over and over.

          It was haunting. I'd never admit it to anyone how much it had scared me. Luci knew and he felt the same, but we couldn't show any sign of fear, so I kept it in.

          Father has flown her out to London to a better facility and doctors who could help her. We were left behind. After several hours of just worrying about Mamma and waiting to be updated about her condition, I had eventually fallen asleep, and now I was woken up by this old asshole, not even two hours later.

          "Is she all right?" I pried.

          "I don't know, but we must leave now. I don't want to anger Federigo right now." He opened the door for me to follow him out. "Especially now."

***

          My heart had been beating too fast the entire time. Even as I was taken to the private airport, got on the jet, and now as I was being driven to the hospital in the heart of London. To Mamma. The three hours of flight time was a blur.

          Luci and I never traveled together for safety concerns, so I couldn't confide in him about how wrong all this felt. I was alone in this right now. But I guessed he was already at the hospital.

          When we reached the destination, Jacopo and a couple of other soldiers who had come with us from Sicily surrounded me for protection as they always did in public settings. The sun was already bright and people were out and about to start their normal lives.

We walked into the hospital that was under our protection. The elevator took us to an almost empty floor. Only our men stood guard at every exit and entrance. Some nurses and doctors rushed around.

It all felt... daunting. Hospitals were never a place I enjoyed visiting at all, but the current situation made everything sadder. Like something was going to happen. Or already had.

I was escorted to a waiting area and left alone. I sat on one of the many chairs and waited. Morning news played on the TV, but I couldn't pay any attention. Time on the clock ticked by and I was growing restless with each second.

          She had to be all right. Leona Bonferroni was too strong to ever fall ill or worse.

          Shit! I wasn't going to think about it. She'd be fine.

My father's men were present with the royal guards from the castle right outside the waiting room, but my father was nowhere to be found.

Where the fuck was Luciano? Wasn't he supposed to be here before me?

Maybe he was already seeing Mamma. I wanted to see her too.

A few more minutes passed by when Jacopo finally showed up again and took me down the hall to a room.

I opened the door slowly and entered alone. My eyes immediately landed on my father's hunched back. He was leaning over the bed where Mamma was laying, but his body blocked my view of her. Only the shape of her legs under a thin white sheet was visible.

          The door swung shut behind me and that was the final sound that echoed in the room.

Complete silence never scared me until now. It was torture. Not even the monitors or the other medical machines made a single sound. Not a beep from them. I was too scared to even move my feet.

          "Leonardo," Father's rough voice broke the silence startlingly, but he didn't spare me a look.

          "Father," I made my presence known, and even that was an effort.

My mouth was so dry all of a sudden. Throat felt constricted. Stomach hollow.

          "Come closer." The seriousness in his voice didn't sit right with me, but I obeyed as I was always taught to do so.

          With heavy feet, I took several steps, each one more dreadful than the previous. But I reached the bedside where I finally laid eyes on my mamma, resting peacefully. Father stroked her pale cheeks in slow, gentle circles.

          "Please tell me she's sleeping."

My voice wasn't my own. It was distant and echoed back into my ears oddly. As if I was slowly falling into a trance.

This had never happened before. It couldn't be happening.

"Leonardo." The tone he used to say my name was my answer—the one I didn't want.

"You lie," I whispered.

No. No. No. Sick fucking joke!

Father got off of the stool he was sitting on so I could see her properly. I neared her slowly. Her skin was pale as it had been back at the castle, but it looked somehow thinner. I could see faint lines of her veins beneath her eyes that somehow seemed to have sunken.

"Mamma?" It came out in a whisper as if I was scared to wake her up from her slumber, but that's what I wanted—to get her to open her eyes. So, I spoke louder. "Mamma?"

My hand reached for hers. Warm as always, but there was no life in it. Deadweight rested in my palm. Fear started burning inside me as I laid a shaky hand upon her cheek, then cradled her face in both palms.

"Mamma?" There was a crack in my voice—something so unusual. "Mamma, wake up. Please."

Father placed a hand on my shoulder, but I ignored it. I didn't need his comfort. I needed him to help me wake her up.

"Please. Please. Please." I patted her still face, but it didn't help. I shook her by her shoulder repeatedly. "Wake up!" I shook her harder. "Wake up! Per favore! You need to wake up!"

"Leonardo," said my father, but I couldn't give a shit about him or what he had to say.

Nothing mattered but her.

"She can't leave the baby!" I yelled, my throat aching with each word. It was painful to even breathe. "She hasn't even named her. She needs to name her."

"That's enough, boy!"

"No!" I screamed, trying to fight his grip on my arms as he pulled me away from her. "Let me go! We need to wake her up."

"Leo!" Father pinned me to the wall with sheer force that ached my back. "Calm down now!"

"Why aren't you saving her?"

"Because she can't be saved!"

Father's face was reddened with such anger that I'd only seen for others. Never myself or my siblings. Or even Mamma. But now he was seething. Even his eyes were red.

"You didn't try hard enough," I spat.

The hold he had on my arms somehow got tighter and made me wince. I was the mark for his anger and frustration. His pain.

"I tried everything in my power to save your Mamma. Absolutely everything. But—" He shook his head defeatedly and released me with a shove.

Sadness pinched his face into something I hadn't witnessed before. Even when he had lost his family and friends, he never looked so—I didn't even know what it was.

He pushed away any emotion that clouded him briefly as he said the words, "Our wealth cannot bribe death to allow us more time with the ones gone. And your Mamma is gone, boy. She's dead."

Those words broke something deep inside me as I processed them.

Dead.

She was dead.

She'd been dead this whole time.

The door creaked open, but I didn't look at the person who came in. My eyes were glued to Mamma's lifeless body.

          Gone—she was gone. Just like that. Not a warning. No nothing. 

          She wasn't supposed to be dead. Not today. Not ever.

          It didn't feel right.

          It didn't feel real.

          I had to fix it. I had to bring her back. For Luci, Belle, Gus. For the new baby. They needed her more than I did. I had to take care of them first.

          Luci wouldn't be able to take this loss. We both loved her so much, but Luci... He had a little more heart than I did. This would break him.

          And Belle. What was I gonna tell her? How would I tell her that I just stood by while Mamma was dying?

          But how? How could I bring her back when she was already gone?

"What do you mean?" Father's voice echoed in the hospital room and finally pulled me out of my thoughts.

Zio Valerio and my father were in the corner away from me, but now their voices were loud.

Zio's eyes met mine for a moment. There was nothing but pity in them. But he turned his gaze back to my father with a shake of his head and a deep sigh.

"It went down," Zio spoke in Italian, his voice low and hoarse. "In the Tyrrhenian Sea."

"How? Was it not checked beforehand?"

          "Everything was checked out and perfect. We don't know what happened. The boys are fishing through the wreckage."

          Father fisted the lapels of Zio's suit and jerked him, shocking not only me but Zio himself. Zio was a bit shorter than Father so it was easier for him to do so.

          "What did you fucking do, Valerio?" Father seethed.

          "Federigo!" The authoritative tone returned to Zio's voice. He jerked off Father's hands and pushed him back. "Don't let that crown on your head make you forget who it is you speak to."

          "This wasn't supposed to happen!" Father's face had reddened with rage. "None of this should've happened."

          He grabbed a lamp off the nearest table and sent it flying across the room. Then a landline phone followed the same course, the wires ripping from the wall. Even the recliner in the room met Father's fury. The cushions slid to the floor. The recliner itself—Father broke it. He kicked, punched, destroyed everything he could get his hands on. Even the medical machines weren't safe.

          But Mamma was untouched. He didn't dare go near her.

          Zio and I just stood watching. He wasn't as surprised as I was for seeing my Father, the king, go fucking crazy. Whatever Zio told him had set him off, and now he had lost his fucking mind.

          Father was panting by the time he was done wrecking everything. He grumbled words I couldn't understand nor did I try to.

          I just didn't care. Nothing mattered with her gone.

          Zio was the one who finally made the move and put a hand on my father's shoulder. "I'm really sorry, Rigo."

          Father shook his head. "It all went wrong, brother."

          "I know."

          Without a word or even a look at anyone, Father stormed out of the room. His fading voice of orders followed him down the hall until the door shut.

          And I still stood there like an idiot. Watching Mamma. Until Zio's hand stroked my head. He was never gentle, but I was seeing new sides of everyone today.

          "There's something you need to know."

I scoffed. "I don't care."

"You will after you hear me out."

"It's not important."

I put the stool upright and sat on it by mamma's bedside. My hand reached for hers. Still warm but so lifeless.

I wouldn't be able to touch her again. Or talk to her. Or even see her. She'd be put in those crypts like every other dead royal, and that'd be it. The end of her rule. So soon.

"Leonardo." Zio came to my side and squeezed my shoulder. "I will regret putting this on you right now, but you need to know about Luciano."

          All thoughts came crashing down on me. About something going down. Father's fury. Zio's pity and regret.

          "Luciano was on his way just as you were, but—"

          "No!" I screamed.

          He didn't even have to finish for me to understand. To understand that my brother too was...

          No! No! No!

          "You need to know."

          "Why are you doing this?"

          That's when I heard it. The pain when I said those words.

          "Because you'll be wearing your father's crown someday and this is what comes with it."

          "Luci is sharing the cr-crown with me."

          I didn't need the look he gave me. The sad fucking eyes. The shame and guilt on his stupid face. I didn't need any of it. I didn't need him near me. Or anyone else for that matter.

          "Luciano won't be sharing anything with you anymore."

          "Shut up!" I yelled, pushing off the stool in anger. "You don't know what you're talking about."

          "You're not a fool, Leo. I've taught you better than that," Zio chided me. "Luciano's plane crashed several minutes after taking off from Sicily."

          "Stop it!"

          "They've been sifting through the wreck for hours in the sea, but as I said, it's a wreck. A burning wreck."

          "Please," I begged, feeling all my restraints breaking. "Just stop."

          "I'm sorry, my boy." He shook his head and patted my cheek. "Luciano is lost to us."

"Nooooooooooo!"

Screams filled the room—my screams. My vision blurred with tears I'd never shed before. I couldn't hear anything. Couldn't see anything. Only the noise in my head grew louder as it yelled at me that they were dead.

Dead.

The word went on a loop and broke it all inside me. So much pain that I didn't know I could feel. Worse than anything physical. Worse than the fractured leg a couple of years ago. Nothing compared.

My brother... Luci was gone. My partner in everything. The only person I relied on every day. The only person who knew me more than I did myself. Dead.

I fell to the floor among the destruction Father had left behind. Not caring for the pieces of plastic and glass digging into my legs.

My chest felt heavy. Small. As if it was shrinking. Breathing was hard.

Pain—so much pain. My insides felt like acid. It was all burning. I felt utterly sick to my stomach.

I heard my voice, but it was only a soft echo in the background. My head was full of noise of my own sadness and screams.

Zio shook me wildly as if he could just shake all the pain away, but he couldn't. No one could.

"Listen to me, my boy." Zio forced my face up to look at him. "Cry your heart out in here. As long as you want. This is the only day you'll be able to mourn your mother and brother. Do you understand me?"

I coughed out a cry. It hurt to keep my eyes open. All those tears draining from them.

"Answer me, Leo!"

My mouth only opened to cry. Forming a word was far out of reach.

Zio didn't push me to talk further. He let me cry for them. Scream at my fucking life. Be angry at the world I was born into where I couldn't have my brother or mother.

"You will lose a lot of people in your life, Leo. We've always told you that." He swept his hand along my cheeks to wipe my tears, but more just came pouring out. "We all learned that at a young age as you have surely realized now. You're a Bonferroni. We can't let anything set us back. Let this day be the last one where you feel lost. Tomorrow, you protect your family and this empire with everything."

          "I-I couldn't even protect—" I cried as I looked up to the bed Mamma's dead body was laying on. "They're dead. I couldn't protect them."

          "Protect what you have left and what you will build. Do you understand me?"

          As the tears continued down my face, I gave him a pathetic nod.

          "Say it."

          "Yes, Zio."

          "Stay here as long as you wish." He wiped away another tear of mine and stood up. "I'm going to find your father."

          With that, he was gone.

It took every ounce of strength in me to pull myself off the floor and get into the small hospital bed with Mamma. It wasn't enough space but I held onto her for dear life.

          And then my heart tore open. It all came rushing out. The floodgates had opened. All the pain burning inside me poured out through my screams and sobs.

          I held onto her tight. Begging her to come back. Pleading with the God she believed in to bring her back. Bring my brother back, too. To just make everything go back to how it was. Happy and as normal as it could be in our world. I'd do anything. Give up anything. To go back twenty-four hours where everything was as normal as it could be.

          "Just come back."

          My prayers and pleas were unanswered because she remained unmoving. Lifeless.

          I wasn't a little dumb kid who believed everything, but I wished for a miracle like in the movies. That this was just a stupid joke or a dream, but it was my reality. It was what I was left with. A life without them.

           I couldn't take it.

          Someone tried to rip me away from her, but I held on tight. Eventually, they succeeded and separated me from my mother.

          "Let me go!"

          I thrashed in the arms that held me. I screamed and cried, but I couldn't do anything. They didn't release me.

          "Stop it!"

          It was my father. His thunderous slap across my face sent me to the floor in pain.

          "Federigo! What the fuck are you doing?" I heard Zio scold my father, but the man didn't care.

          "You need to stop this nonsense. Do you hear me, boy?" Father pulled me up by my arms and shoved me against the wall. "Stop crying. Stop screaming. Stop acting like a fucking idiot. They were going to die someday. Everyone is going to die. Is this how you're going to act each time? Break down like a little girl? Even Belle would have more sense to keep her composure."

I stared at him in utter shock at his words, at his actions. He'd never raised his hand on me before, but now... I didn't recognize him anymore. It hadn't taken long for him to just switch like that.

He wasn't my father anymore. He was just Federigo, the man people hated. The man I hated now.

Everyone was right about him. He was a fucking stronzo (asshole). His good-guy persona was only in front of Mamma. Now that she was gone, he didn't have to act nice anymore.

I didn't shed another tear. Didn't give him the chance to slap me again.

"It's a good thing she died before she saw you slap me. She wouldn't leave you walking around with your fucking hand, pezzo di merda (piece of shit)!" I spat on his face that left both him and Zio in utter bewilderment. "Mangia merde e morte (Eat shit and die)!"

I stormed out of the room and ran down hallways until I found a closet and hid in there. I wasn't hiding in fear of Federigo's wrath. I was hiding from all the eyes in this place. I needed time to think. Time to let it all sink in. Alone.

It took some time for my hands to stop shaking and for my heart to stop running so wildly. But my jaw hurt where he slapped it so hard.

That motherfucker!

He'd get no tears from me anymore. Only anger.

To avoid thinking about them and spiraling out of control, I had to focus on something else. A new direction.

So, I sat in the dark closet for hours, dreading the responsibility that was going to be thrown on my shoulders now.

Business was going to come first and I had to attend it more to understand, so I could do better than Federigo. I had to show him that I was indeed better than him as a businessman and a king when my time came.

I'd make him bow before me.

Protect what you have left.

Protection was the priority. Not Federigo. But my siblings. Belle and Gus and the new baby.

And Luci... I wished I could tell him how sorry I was for failing him and promise him to protect our brother and sisters. I couldn't let them meet the same fate as him.

I wouldn't fail them.

***

Branches of trees slammed against the window of my room. A sign that a rainstorm was on its way. Nothing unusual for England.

I couldn't sleep well as usual. But with the howling wind, I couldn't even have peace.

Sketching something would've been my distraction before, but even that was dull now.

I jumped out of the bed and strolled down the hallway. Maybe a snack or T.V. would keep my mind off... things. Or I could probably bother Mike who was likely snoring in the room next to mine right now. But I stopped when I heard cries standing right outside of Belle's room.

Federigo had informed her a week ago about what had happened. A month after it all went down. To say all hell broke loose was an understatement.

          The fits she threw were unbelievable and understandable.

          She was in no condition to go back to boarding school. None of us were. So, here we were in the countryside of England in our estate.

I knocked on Belle's door and got a frustrated response.

"Leave me alone."

"I need to show you something." I twisted the handle to find it locked. "If you don't open right now, I'll break it down. And then we'll all deal with Federigo."

I heard angry footsteps right before the door opened. Belle's grumpy little face came into view. Her black hair was a mess. Her cheeks were bright red and eyes puffy from all the tears.

"I hate him," she grumbled.

"I do, too."

"How could he not tell me?" She huffed and crossed her arms. "How could you not tell me?"

"It was his decision. I couldn't do anything."

She looked at me with those teary eyes. So much like Mamma. "I didn't get to say goodbye, Leo."

"I know." Before a tear could slip from her eye, I said, "Put on a coat."

"Why?"

"Quick! We gotta do something before it rains."

She did as told after rolling her eyes at me.

"So, what are we doing?" She asked as I took her wrist and started running. "Slow down, yeah? I'll fall."

I only stopped when we got to Gus' room. I found him sleeping in his bed that was shaped like a race car. A globe sitting on the nightstand projected stars and moon in different colors onto the ceiling. It also played soothing music. It helped him sleep.

With gentle nudges and whispers, I woke him up. Obviously, he wasn't happy about it either.

"I've got to show you something." I got him a jacket from his closet and helped him put it on. "Okay?"

He rubbed his eyes and nodded. He didn't speak as usual. He hadn't spoken since Father told him that Luci and Mamma weren't coming back. I tried every day to get him to say something, but he wouldn't. But I wasn't going to give up on my little brother.

With one of his hands in Belle's and the other one in mine, Gus walked with us to another room where I took them. I told them to stay back as I entered.

I opened the door slowly and tip-toed inside. A small lamp in the far corner of the room brought light in. One of the maids. who was assigned to care for the baby's needs at night was sitting on a recliner with a book in her hand. She raised a brow but didn't make a move.

Leaning over the crib, I smiled at the sleeping baby.

Evelina Bonferroni. The name Luci wanted for her.

          I had insisted on naming her that after that shitty day. Luckily, Federigo didn't argue with me on it. With everything happening and the sudden change in life, we were too worn out to fight.

          A doll she was with puffy cheeks and smooth black hair like the rest of us. But she looked like Federigo. Same eyes and some features. Pretty version of our father.

          Federigo was an ugly motherfucker. I could be biased because I didn't like the stronzo.

"Can I help you?" whispered the caretaker when she came to my side.

          "Could you make sure she's warm and give her to me? We are going to be outside for a few minutes."

          "I'd advise you against that. It's windy outside."

          "I wonder why I said 'make sure she's warm' then."

          "Your father won't approve," she muttered, but slowly picked Evelina up who was already getting fussy. She put a pacifier in her mouth which soothed her and put her back to sleep.

          "I'll deal with him on my own."

          Once she wrapped Evelina up all nice and cozy in layers of clothes, a blanket, and a hat, she handed her over to me.

          Lina. I'd like to call her Lina. My little, tiny ant.

          She was smiling in her sleep.

          I wasn't scared of holding her anymore. How could someone so small and cute hurt me when the rest of the world seemed to be against me? Being around my siblings calmed me. Especially Lina since she didn't throw tantrums. Yet.

          Gus and Belle followed me when I brought Lina out. They tiptoed to look at her, hands trying to grab her.

          "She's sleeping. If you wake her up, she's gonna cry your ears off, so wait till she wakes up."

          "What are we even doing?" Belle whispered as we snuck downstairs.

          "Just come."

          I put the code in for the alarm and opened the door that led to the large backyard.

          I told them to sit on the patio chairs, shielded by a roof and wall, preventing the brunt of the wind from getting to them. I then laid Lina in Belle's lap who immediately smiled. The first one I'd seen since breaking the news to her.

          Before the wind could freeze my bones, I got to work. Unlike them, I didn't have a jacket on.

          I needed sticks. Thin and medium-sized. With the incoming storm, the search wasn't too hard. Four branches were ready to go.

          Putting one on top of the other, I made two makeshift crosses and plunged them into the grass so they stood upright. I jumped over to Belle and quickly unfastened a thin necklace she always wore. It was given to her by Mamma.

          "Give it back!" Belle protested.

          "Shut up, will ya? You'll wake her up."

          I put the necklace around one of the crosses. It dangled with the wind. Then, I removed the bracelet I'd worn since birth. It had been adjusted as I grew older, but it always remained with me. It wasn't to show our wealth, but to remind me of the power I'd inherit in the empire.

          It was made of steel and wrapped around my wrist like tiny chains. Between the chains was a small round token with our family crest. Lion roaring in the middle and two bodies of dragons on either side with their heads meeting at the top in fire. For such a small thing, it was too detailed and too heavy. Didn't know what metal it was forged from and I didn't care. But that token had a purpose. It was specifically made for a reason.

          Only Luciano and Federigo had one too. But theirs was slightly different in design.

          Luci's was lost with him now. So, our tokens were practically useless.

          Still, I put my bracelet around the other cross.

I plucked four flowers from the nearby bushes and strolled back to my siblings.

"Here." I gave them both two flowers each and took Lina from Belle's arms. "Go on before it rains."

"And do what?"

"Say your goodbyes. Neither of you got the chance to do that." I nodded to the makeshift cross with Belle's necklace. "That's for Mamma and the other one with the bracelet is for Luciano."

          The sadness that came onto Belle's face was immediate as she looked at what I'd created.

          I knew it wasn't the real thing. Not getting to speak with them one last time. To say their final words. To hug them tight. But I had to try. This was better than nothing.

          Belle held Gus' hand and took him along to the fake graves. Neither of them was there for the funerals, so this was their chance.

          After what happened that day, father had gone to check out the crash site with Zio Valerio himself. Meanwhile, I'd gotten out of that closet hours later and found a few royal guards with Nonna in Mamma's room. They were transporting her back to Sicily for the funeral. Nonna wasn't going to wait for Federigo to oppose her. And I was spiteful, so I didn't stop Nonna from it.

          We went back to Sicily and held her funeral the next day. Her side of the family was present. Even her twin sister, Zia Aria, to whom she barely spoke, was there. Father wasn't. And that didn't go well. I'd never seen him speaking to Nonna like that, but he was furious with everyone. Slurs and insults flew around during her funeral reception where he had finally made it.

          Mamma's casket was put in the ground while a mausoleum was built for her where she was later transferred. Like Bartolomeo Drago, she was encased in a marble tomb.

          As for Luciano, us being twins was a secret hidden from the majority, besides family, for safety reasons. So, he didn't get a big mausoleum or a grand funeral. His empty casket was lowered into the ground in Milan with the other Bonferroni members who previously died.

          I hadn't shed a single tear since the day in the hospital. And I was never going to be that weak again. I'd never let anyone see me like that. Especially not my bastard father.

          Nonna promised to put me on that throne when I was ready, and I couldn't wait for the day I'd take the crown right off of Federigo's head. He never deserved Mamma's royalty status, to be named king. I'd show him who a king really is.

          Gus came running back to me and wrapped his thin arms around my waist. His flowers had just been thrown in front of the two crosses.

          "You don't want to say anything?"

          Gus only shook his head in response, hiding his face against my body.

          Belle, however, took her time. She was on her knees, placing each flower slowly. One for Mamma and the other for Luciano. I could hear her crying, but not what she was saying. And I didn't try hard enough to listen.

The reality of their death didn't hurt anymore. I didn't think about it much to let it hurt. Everyone around me didn't speak of it unless truly necessary like the shitty funerals and telling Belle. Other than that, they avoided it like the plague. They acted like they never existed.

          Their belongings were removed from sight. No piece of clothing. Not a single photograph remained in the house or anywhere. Nothing but memories left, and I tried not to remember. It was better this way.

          Never again was I going to let some death beat me down again. Mamma wanted me to be strong and protect, so that's what I was going to do as best as I could.

          Belle dragged her feet back to me, wiping away at tears that slipped down her cheeks. Just as Gus did, Belle hugged me tightly and cried.

          "I miss them so much," she sobbed. Her eyes met mine, hoping to find something I didn't know how to give.

          "I know," was all I said as I searched for words.

          Pulling myself away from them, I sat on the patio chair and let Evelina sleep in my lap. I extended my hands toward my brother and sister and asked them to hold it. After a second, they did and sat down on either side of me.

          I hated seeing it—the sadness, the pain of losing someone so important.

          "I made Mamma a promise to always protect you all, and I will." I squeezed their hands. "No matter what happens, we stick together as one against the world. You will always have me whenever you need me. You, Gus, and Evelina are the most important to me. And I'd do anything for you."

          Belle nodded sadly while Gus only stared at me with teary eyes.

          Some of Mamma's final words rang in my head.

Promise me you will protect your siblings. It'll all fall on you someday, and when it does, I need you to promise me you won't lose sight of this family.

          I couldn't let her down.

"Prima la famiglia," I said to them. Mamma had never shared these words with anything besides me and Luciano. But I wanted Belle and Augustus to know the importance of it. "Family first. Always. Promise me."

"Family first," Belle muttered. "Always."

We looked at Gus who was quiet and didn't let out a single sound.

"Can you say it for me?" I urged him.

He shook his head and let it fall against my shoulder. Still unwilling to say a word. He needed help. He needed Mamma back and that was something that wasn't going to happen. So, another approach was necessary.

A soft sniffle from the doorway startled us all.

"Sorry," Amelia apologized immediately, wiping her tears.

She was Evelina's doctor, but Federigo had hired her to be the primary caregiver for the baby. She went everywhere with us. A mother figure for Lina. For us all in a way.

"The night nurse informed me of your late night rendezvous. I had to come check on you and see if everything was all right."

"Well, thank you for ruining it," Belle spat and stormed inside. "Fuck off."

Belle believed Amelia was trying to replace Mamma and that's where her hate for the woman was coming from. I didn't like it because Amelia was good for Gus and Lina. She was helping them. But telling Belle that was equivalent to speaking to a wall. Pointless.

Amelia only sighed and motioned us to come in. Gus quickly got the necklace and my bracelet from the crosses and slipped them into my pocket.

The warmth of the house felt like heaven when I got inside. I handed Lina to Amelia who could put her back in bed.

"Leonardo?"

"Yes?"

Amelia gave me a sad smile and touched my cheek. "You're a good brother."

"You think so?"

"I know so." She pressed a light kiss to my forehead. "You should be proud of yourself."

With my sleeping baby sister in one arm, she held Gus' hand with the other and took them both away while I just stood in the same spot.

Promise me you won't lose sight of this family.

I won't, Mamma. I won't.

———————————————————

Hello, my loves!!! How are you?

Yay or nay?

The final flashback scene is over! What did you guys think?

My poor baby Leo 🥺

What did you guys think about Federigo in this chapter?

Do you think Federigo was truly sad about Leona's death or was it all an act as young Leo believed?

What do you guys think about Zio Valerio? Mr. Shady or what?

Do tell me your thoughts of the last scene with the Bonferroni siblings! I loved writing it.

What significance do you think the token on Leo's bracelet has?

Thoughts on Leo?

Or Arie?

Luca/Luciano?

Further comments and questions are always welcome ❤️

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Stay safe and much love to everyone ❤️
~Reet