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“Fuck that,” I say at once A knee-jerk reaction “I can do it myself”

Mario sighs His hand hasn’t left n of weakness to go to any lengths to protect the ones you care about, Marcello The only true weakness is pride”

I start to retort, but I end up sing it back “You’re right,” I say instead “Fuck, you’re right”

“Pride hurts the very same ones you want to protect” His eyes slide over to the wo her breathing and eating and heart-pu for her “It hurt her”

I know he’s reht it all happened

I am, too

“It wasn’t your fault,” I say fiercely

He just shakes his head sadly “Pride cost me my wife,” he whispers He looks up at me “It cost you your mother”

“She’s not dead,” I fire back “She’s right there”

Mario shakes his head again “You’re my son, Marcello I was supposed to protect you And I was supposed to protect her I failed you both Look at her She’s not alive Not in the ways that matter”

The walls we’ve kept up for so long between us feel like they’re in danger of cru

“It wasn’t your fault,” I say again My voice is failing

Since the night of the attack, my father and I have kept up this charade I am the don He is an advisor

But that’s basically just a bandage on a bullet wound The easiest way of ignoring all the pain in our past

The truth is that he is s the Irish and the Russians did hurt us both far more than we have ever been able to admit

“We can’t keep holding on to this,” Mario says “You can’t go into the future if you’re clinging to the past You can’t protect everything at once We failed her, son Perhaps it’s tio”

Tears prick at listen in his, too

His hand holds my shoulder I put my hand on his shoulder

Beep Beep The

We both turn and rest our free hand on my mother’s bed “Goodbye, Mamma,” I whisper

I stand Mario stays seated, whispering softly in Italian

I leave hi that’s left to be said

Harper