Chapter 6

(Pamela)

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THE RAIN STARTS right as they lower my sister into the ground.

It's a light drizzle that quickly turns into a downpour. Everyone takes shade under an umbrella, but I don’t even feel the rain pouring down harshly at us.

My entire focus is on Anna's dark mahogany casket that keeps getting lowered away.  Soon, my sister is completely gone from our view and now six feet under. Never to be seen or heard from ever again.

My fingers clutch the baby-red roses so tightly that the stems dig into my palms. But I don’t feel the pain. I don't  even feel my own fingers. 

I should step forward. I should place the flowers down and whisper a final goodbye. But my body refuses to move because I'm still finding it so hard to believe.

She’s gone.

She’s really gone. 

My one and only sister.

I'd sacrificed my entire life to raise her, to make sure she didn't have the kind of childhood that I had. I had done multiple jobs at the same time, just to be able to provide her with the best things, and to enroll her at the best schools. 

I had put my entire life on hold to be a father, a mother, and a sister to Anna, all at once.  And now. . .she's gone from my life.

Forever. 

I bite down the tears that threaten to fall. The priest is still speaking and the mourners gathered are all watching me in surprise but I refuse to give them a show. I won’t cry anymore, instead, I'll remain strong for Anna and Erik.

A hand squeezes  me affectionately. It's my best friend,  Bonnie who's standing right next to me. “Pam, let’s get out of the rain. You’re shivering.”

I shake my head sadly, my throat too tight to speak. I can’t leave yet. Not until I see everything through. Not until I see the last handful of dirt being placed over her grave.

Anna’s being buried right next to our late parents, and that saddens me more than anything else. In nine years, I've lost everyone so dear to me. My parents, and now my sister. 

Being an orphan at a young age had been really tough, but Anna’s death was even more painful. Now, the only person I have left is Erik, and no matter how much I try to move on, he’ll always remind me of my dear sister.

I sniff back my tears and look away from the grave. There aren’t many people at the burial. Some of Anna’s classmates from college, a few of my neighbors, and my colleagues from school. People who barely knew her but only came because it’s the decent thing to do.

But the one person who should be here, standing beside me, and mourning the mother of his child, is nowhere in sight.

Kal D'Amato. 

My chest tightens and the anger inside of me threatens to explode but I try really hard to hold it in.

Not even a call or a goddamn text message.

Nothing. He's remained silent throughout this entire ordeal as if  he isn't the reason my sister is dead in the first place.

I could easily forgive not showing up at Erik's birth, but completely ignoring Anna’s burial is where I draw the line.

A spineless coward. That's what he is, and one day, when I have fully recovered from my grief, I will have my revenge on him for what he did to my dear sister. 

I will never ever forgive him. He's going to pay because I won't let him go scot-free. Anna’s death won't be for nothing.

Just as I come to this conclusion,  my gaze falls on a tall, intimidating figure standing just beyond the crowd, just far enough to be separate from the mourners. Dressed in all black, and his dark coat drenched from the rain.

Massimo.

His gaze is unreadable, but his dark grey eyes still manage to pierce through the crowd as he scans the area. He isn’t under an umbrella like the others. The rain falls freely over him, soaking through his expensive suit, but he stands there as if he doesn’t notice.

The fury burning in my chest finally gets a hold of me as soon as I see him. I don’t think, and before I know it, I'm moving.

My heels sink into the wet soil as I storm toward him, a sign that I should probably stop but I don’t even pay attention. Finally,  I reach him, and before I can stop myself, I shove my hands roughly against his chest.

But he doesn't even flinch at my reaction. 

“How dare you?” I yell, my voice breaking with rage.

He exhales slowly, his breath visible in the cold air. “Pamela—”

“You have some nerve showing up here,” I snap as I shoved him again, harder this time. “Your brother couldn’t even bother to come, and you think you can stand here like you actually care?”

A muscle ticks angrily in Massimo’s jaw. I can see how the impact of my words have done more damage than my hands ever did.

But I continue with a bitter laugh, “What is this for really? Damage control? Another move to protect your precious family name?”

“No.” His voice is firm, but the burning look in his eyes says otherwise. “I’m here to pay my respects.”

“Respects?” I spit out in disgust. “Respects from the family that abandoned her the whole time she was pregnant? That left her to suffer alone? That tried to take her child away from me a few days ago?”

Massimo’s face hardens, but he doesn’t fire back.

And that angers me even more. I need to get a reaction out of him. I need to hit him right where it hurts, because I'm not thinking clearly right now.

“Where is Kal?” My voice shakes. “Did you at least try to drag him here? Or did he just not give a damn?”

Massimo sighs as he runs his hands through his dampened hair. “My brother. . .isn't handling this well, I assure you.”

I let out another bitter laugh. “Oh, poor Kal. This must be so hard for him.”

Massimo’s gaze sharpens. “I’m not excusing his behaviour, Pamela. I’m just saying that—”

“He didn’t even try!” My voice cracks, and suddenly, I feel so empty as the fight completely drains out of me and the weight of the last few days presses down on me all at once.

My head starts to spin slowly at first, and then rapidly, as if someone is somewhere in there screwing with it. 

As a result,  my knees give way, and before I can even process what's happening, I find myself falling helplessly towards the unforgiving ground.