Dad's Capos Swore to Guard Me, So I Made Them Break Every Oath novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Her Mother's Bed

My mother's room had been locked for eight years.

I stood in front of the door at midnight with the key in my hand.

Dom and Quino stood behind me in the hall.

I had not used that key since the week we buried her.

"Open it for me," I said, and I gave it to Dom.

He turned it slowly, as he did everything.

The door swung in on a breath of gardenia.

Nothing had moved.

The white lace spread lay smooth on the bed, and her brushes lay on the dresser, and her robe still hung on the closet door.

On the nightstand stood a photograph of her laughing, with her head thrown back and a cigar between her fingers, at the club.

I walked in and stopped in the middle of the carpet.

My throat was tight, and I could not make my feet go further.

Quino's hand came to rest on the back of my neck.

He said nothing.

Dom stepped around in front of me and took both my hands in his.

"We can leave," he said quietly. "Valentina. We do not have to do this here."

"Yes, we do."

I wiped my face on my sleeve.

"She would have laughed," I said. "She would have said, 'Mija, what are you waiting for?'"

Dom's mouth moved, not quite a smile.

"She would have," he said. "She said it to me many times."

I put my arms around his waist and my face against his chest.

Quino's arms closed around both of us from behind.

I stood between them for a long time, and I let myself cry, and they let me.

Nobody tried to make it stop.

When it was done, I felt lighter and very clear.

I lifted my head and kissed Dom, softly, and then reached back and pulled Quino's mouth down to mine.

"Now," I said. "In her bed."

I turned and took off my robe.

The lamp on the dresser made the room gold, and the gardenia was warm in my throat.

I pulled the lace spread off the bed and folded it over the chair.

Underneath was a white sheet, cool and clean.

"Undress," I said. "Both of you."

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