The IntentWe sat like this for some time, then I asked, “What did your father say when you were shooting?”
Tony and Roy — and sometimes Molly — spoke this other language from time to time, but never before when they thought I might hear.
Tony hesitated. “He told me, ‘What will you do when it’s time to protect her? Let her die?’”
I recalled Tony’s nightmare a few months back of me lying cold and still.
“He’s trying to cause me harm and upset in any way he can.” Tony leaned his elbows on his knees, his face in his hands. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say he tried to drive me mad.”
That seemed unlikely — but it wouldn’t help to say so. “What language do you and your parents speak?”
This seemed to cheer Tony somewhat. “Italian. We’ve spoken it as long as I can remember.”
“Did your famil
