She froze in place.
The door swung open with a bang.
“Tony…”
His name oozed out of her in a whisper, her body slumping in relief.
It felt like a fever dream watching the lean, young man march in. His wide eyes latched onto her disheveled form cowering on the floor–and then Gio’s.
At the sight of his bloody Boss, he paled before taking a jerking step back, scanning around the room. The once beautiful office now looked positively gruesome, littered with bodies and broken glass.
Tony turned a questioning glance at his mother, who looked similarly shocked by his appearance.
“What the hell did you do…” Auntie fixated not on him but beyond–on the housekeeper, who was hovering at the doorway uncertainly.
“I didn’t know…Master Tony asked to–”
“And you agreed?” Auntie barked in outrage. “You had strict orders not to let anyone else in.”
“But he’s–”
“Get out!”
The woman scampered out, slamming the door shut behind her.
Auntie immediately turned to her son in consternation, her face crumpling in distress. “You shouldn’t have come here, Tony. You were not supposed to come back until evening.”
“So you could do what?” His voice rose, bordering on hysteria. He gazed wildly around the room before meeting Ana’s eyes again.
She smiled reassuringly, anchoring him as best she could in this storm, even as terror thrummed through her veins.
The normal boyish grin on his face was gone as he inhaled sharply before eyeing the two guards. “Both of you–leave.”
They frowned in confusion.
“Leave,” he said with more confidence and authority. “Now!”
“Antonio.” Auntie frantically pulled at his arm. “What are you doing? The plan isn’t done yet.”
He stared at her, clearly not understanding. “This is Ana and Gio, Mom. They’re on the fuckin’ floor bleeding. What the hell are you talking about,” he pleaded, fear and anger lacing his tone. “Just tell the guards to move back and call an ambulance!”
But she shook her head.
“It’s too late.”
“Mom–”
“We’ve come too far.”
“Too far with what?” he demanded sharply.
When the older woman stood defiantly mute, Tony turned back to Ana questioningly. She swallowed heavily, her voice quivering. “The guard,” she whispered, “the one who attacked me…” He didn’t move, but recognition bloomed in his eyes. “…he’s the one who rigged the car bomb.”
Silence.
His face went blank.
“Auntie ordered him to.”