Chapter 72: Desperation

Ana
The same day I received the devastating news of Dante’s death, I tried to focus on organizing a proper funeral for him. It was hard to think clearly, the pain clouded my mind, but I knew it was what I had to do.
Paolo was asleep in his crib while I went over the preparations. The room was silent, a stark contrast to the turmoil of emotions I felt inside. The flowers, the candles, the coffin… everything was ready, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling of disappointment and frustration.
“They didn’t even let me see his body properly, Martin. How can I be sure it’s him?”
Martin watched me with a mix of compassion and concern.
“It’s what we were told, Ana. I know it’s hard to accept, but we have to trust the reports.”
The uncertainty was eating me alive. What if it wasn’t Dante in that coffin? What if this was all some cruel joke? But I had no way of knowing for sure, and that thought made me feel even more powerless.
“I need to see him, Martin. I need to confirm with my own eyes that it’s him.”
“I tried, Ana. But the authorities didn’t allow further inspections. They said the state of the body is unrecognizable due to the fire.”
My hands trembled as I placed them on the table, trying to calm myself. Luisa entered the room, her expression calculating.
“Ana, I know this is hard, but we have to move forward. You can’t keep holding on to what’s gone. The only thing that matters now is Paolo. You need to focus on him and the new plans for the mafia.”
The coldness in her voice made me feel even more alone. But she was right about one thing: Paolo was the most important now. I looked at him, sleeping peacefully, unaware of all the chaos around us.
“I’m not ready to let go of Dante. I need time.”
“Time is not on our side. You have responsibilities, Ana. The mafia doesn’t stop for anyone, no matter how painful the loss.”
Martin placed a hand on my shoulder, a comforting gesture I appreciated.
“We know Dante would want you to move forward, Ana. For Paolo, for yourself. It’s what he would have wanted.”
Martin’s words echoed in my mind. Dante had always been a pillar of strength and determination. Even in his absence, I had to honor his memory by doing what he would have done: keep fighting.
“All right. I’ll do whatever it takes. But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten him. Dante will always be a part of me.”
Luisa nodded, satisfied with my response.
“That’s how it should be. Now, let’s focus on the next steps. There’s a lot of work to do.”
Dante’s funeral was simple but moving. The rain fell gently on us as we gathered around the coffin. My tears mingled with the raindrops, and my heart felt shattered into a thousand pieces.
So many thoughts ran through my mind at that moment, as if our entire story flashed before my eyes in seconds. From the day we met, our story unfolded slowly until we couldn’t be apart. I knew what we had was love, but in the end, our ideals clashed. I had my own family to protect, and now I regret that it ended this way.
“I promise you, Dante, I will take care of Paolo. And I promise I will keep going, for you,” I said as I dropped a black rose into the coffin—his favorite.
After the service, we returned home. Luisa wasted no time in addressing mafia matters. For her, it was all about work and sealing important deals; there was no room for anything else.
“Ana, we need to discuss our next move. Nick and Carol are waiting for our response.”
“I need a moment, Luisa. Just a moment to process all of this.”
“We don’t have that luxury. Every second counts in this world. We can’t afford any weaknesses.”
Luisa’s words were harsh, but there was an undeniable truth in them. I had to be strong, not just for myself, but for Paolo and the promise I made to Dante. I was already a step ahead, knowing that Nick and Carol were on my side, willing to do anything to help me defeat Luisa. It’s what I desired most at this moment—to end her.
I didn’t care what people said, what they thought, or even what my own mother believed she knew. I was convinced that Luisa was behind Dante’s death, and I vowed to avenge it.
“All right. Let’s talk about the next steps.”
Martin approached with a map and documents.
“We’ve identified several areas that could be key to expanding our control. But we need your approval before proceeding.”
I looked over the documents, trying to focus my mind on the task at hand.
“Let’s proceed with caution. I don’t want to make any mistakes. We need to be sure of every move.”
Luisa smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“That’s the attitude we need. Together, we can achieve it.”
Martin nodded, his unwavering loyalty clear in his gaze.
“I’ll always be here to support you, Ana. We’ll do it together.”
That night, as I cradled Paolo in my arms, I realized that, although the path ahead would be difficult with my mother in the way, I would do whatever it takes to move forward, for my son, for myself, and for Dante’s memory.
“I promise you, my little one, we will be strong. We will fight and win. For you and for your father’s memory.”
The silence of the night was broken only by the soft whisper of the wind, a reminder that even though the pain and loss were immense, hope and vengeance could still guide us forward.
Martin entered the room cautiously, as if everything he was about to say could shatter me into a thousand pieces.
“Ana, I’m sorry to bother you. I just want to know if there’s anything we can do to help.”
“We? Who else?”
“Mateo is just as worried about you as I am. He stayed behind to inspect some things. He also finds this sudden death suspicious...” He trailed off.
“Her death took us all by surprise.”
“Do you need anything?”
“Just to rest. If I need help, you’ll be the first to know. Right now, all I want is to sleep. I feel like everything hurts.”