Chapter2

The row of two-family brick houses on Evergreen Avenue was in the Soundview section of the South Bronx—the homes built with tiny spaces between each house. The Romano house sat smack in the middle of therow.

Thirty-two-year-old Angelina Romano was cooking in the kitchen. She was sniffling as she slipped the roasting pan back into the oven. She heard the front door open and thenclosed.

Fourteen-year-old Rocco came into the kitchen. “When’s dinner, Mom? I’mstarving.”

Angelina turned her back on her son to compose herself and dry her eyes. Then she twirled around, wiped her hands on her apron, and forced a smile. “Oh, not for another hour. Eat somebreadsticks.”

Rocco tracked to a bread basket on the counter and took two breadsticks. “Where’s Johnny?” He bit into a breadstick but suddenly sensed trouble. “Something wrong,mom?”

Angelina’s eyes peeked past the kitchen. Rocco turned to look. He quickly figured it out. Rocco raced out of the kitchen. Angelina chased after him in panic. “He was drunk, Rocco. He didn’t mean to do it. You know what he’s like when he’sdrinking.”

Rocco pushed the bedroom door open. Twelve-year-old Johnny was sitting on the edge of his bed, pressing a rag against his mouth. Johnny’s striped Polo shirt had blood on it.

Rocco bit down on his fist. Angelina pushed past Rocco and entered the room. Johnny took the rag away from his mouth. The cloth was bloody. Rocco’s eyes filled with rage.

Angelina sat next to Johnny and put her arm around him. “He only hit him once, Rocco. It was an accident. The belt buckle nicked Johnny’slip.”

Rocco turned and stormedout.

“It’s his temper, Rocco,” Angelina shouted. “His temper when hedrinks!”

Rocco was long gone. Angelina hugged Johnny. At that moment, the only thought that passed through Angelina’s brain was how she could hurt her husband, as he had done so many times to hersons.

Rocco was