Chapter 107
Katya pov
I moved behind her chair, gripping the handles. My palms were clammy. My heart thundering. But Nonna smiled like everything was fine — like my world hadn’t just been kicked sideways by Roo’s icy stare.
Slowly, I pushed her toward the hallway. Every step brought closer to him. Every step made my breath grow tighter.
But Nonna humd happily, completely unaware of the dread wedged under my ribs.
We reached the elevator, and I pressed the button with a trembling finger.
"Good girl," she said warmly, patting my hand again.
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chi.
And as I guided Nonna inside, hyperaware of how close we were getting to Roo... my knees nearly buckled all over again.
The elevator doors slid shut behind us with a soft thud, sealing us into a small box of humming tal and too-warm air.
I swallowed hard. My throat feeling like sandpaper.
Nonna adjusted her shawl, completely calm, completely unaware that my pulse was pounding in my ears so loud it felt like the floor was vibrating.
As the elevator began to rise, she glanced up at with a smile. "You’re still trembling, mia cara."
I stiffened, of course I’m trembling. Who wouldn’t, your grandson is heartless but I just whispered. "I—I’m fine."
"You are many things," Nonna said gently, "but a liar is not one of them."
The sha hit hot under my skin. I didn’t want to be afraid.
I didn’t want her to see how scared I was of her grandson.
I didn’t want her to choose him over . As selfish as that sounds but I’m a good person and he isn’t.
The elevator climbed up while I forced myself to breathe — slow, quiet, controlled.
But then I rembered the way Roo’s eyes cut through in the hallway.
Cold.
Sharp.
Like recognition mixed with disgust.
My palms went sweat-slick around the wheelchair handles.
Nonna glanced toward the doors as if she could see through them.
"Don’t be frightened, bambina. Roo is... difficult. But he will not harm you."That was enough to make my breath hitch.
Because how could she know that?
How could she promise that?
She didn’t see the look he gave .
My voice ca out thin. "You don’t know what he thinks of ." She humd thoughtfully, not arguing.
Not denying it either. She already knew I was their enemies daughter so why would she even pick over her blood?
The elevator slowed and my heart sped up.
The doors began to slide open— And the first thing I saw was Antonio, walking back into Roos room with sothing in his hand.
He didn’t see us as he disappeared into the room while I hesitant in pushing nonna out of the elevator. why was she actually oblivious with my feelings like it’s not valid to not see her grandson but well she doesn’t even know that I had tried killing him in his coma.
"Bambina," Nonna’s voice suddenly cut through my skull, sharp but gentle. "You are squeezing this poor wheelchair like you want to strangle it."
I jerked, startled, realizing my knuckles were bone-white around the handles.
"S-sorry." I loosened my grip instantly.
"No being sorry," she chided softly, twisting a bit in her seat to peer up at . "Your head is too loud. Co back down into your body, mh?"
Nonna waited, tapping my hand. "Andiamo, mia cara. Push."
I forced my feet to move. Forced my hands to guide her chair forward.
The hallway felt colder the closer we got. Like every step brought deeper into the lion’s den.
My breath hitched as we crossed the threshold of the room.
And there he was.
Roo.
Not in a wheelchair anymore. Oh no, he’d dragged himself out of it and back straight against his bed boards, the blanket rumpled around his hips.
A gun lay loosely in one hand like it belonged there, like it was an extension of his body while a paper — maybe a dical thing, maybe sothing else — rested across his lap.
Antonio stood by the door, mid-sentence, but both n stopped talking the mont Nonna and I entered.
Their heads snapped up.Their eyes landed on us. Silence. A thick, heavy silence.
Antonio’s shoulders slumped instantly with a defeated sigh pushing out of him.
Roo didn’t even sigh. He groaned — low, irritated, murderous — like our presence was the worst possible thing that could’ve happened to him today.
And I couldn’t agree more because I would feel the sa way too.Nonna lifted her chin, unimpressed with their groans.
"Wipe those disappointed looks off your faces this instant," she snapped, smacking her hand lightly against the arm of her chair.
"Before I get up and whoop both of you. How dare you make such faces at my presence?"
Antonio’s eyes flickered with little fear at his age but co on its nonna.
Roo didn’t even bother hiding his irritation.
I stayed exactly where I was — behind Nonna, behind her chair, behind anything that could keep their eyes away from .
If I could sink into the wall and disappear, I would have.
Roo’s gaze finally cut to Nonna, sharp as a blade."What are you doing in my room?"
His tone made every muscle in my body lock.
Nonna gasped, the offended, dramatic kind only Italian grandmothers had mastered. "What am I doing here?" she repeated, scandalized. "My grandson just woke up from a coma! Why wouldn’t I be here?"
Roo opened his mouth to retort but Nonna’s attention snapped downward and her eyes narrowed.
At the gun.
"In Dio’s na," she breathed, scandal turning into outrage, "why is there a gun in your hand? You just woke up from the hospital, and this is what you grab?"
Before I could blink, she was already wheeling herself forward with surprising speed, straight toward the bed.
"Give it," she ordered, reaching out.
Roo pulled the gun out of her reach with a glare. "Back off, old hag."
My entire soul flinched. Nonna didn’t even look surprised nor Mr. Antonio but !
I nearly jumped out of my skin.
"Old hag? OLD HAG? Salvatore Roo, I brought you into this world—"
"And soone should’ve taken you out of it," Roo muttered.
Mr Antonio slapped a hand over his face.
I stood stiff near the door, heat crawling up my neck. If he spoke to her that way...
To the only person who loved him without condition...
What chance did I have?
None.
Zero.
Maybe I shouldn’t have co.
Maybe she shouldn’t have pulled here.
Maybe—maybe this was stupid of to think Nonna could protect from him.
Roo gave her another cold look and tucked the gun behind his pillow, clearly not planning on giving it up.
Nonna exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of her nose — the universal sign of a woman preparing to commit murder.
And I? I quietly stepped farther back, closer to the wall, subconsciously closer to Mr Antonio.
Better to be invisible. Better to not catch Roo’s attention.
††
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