Chapter 3

He picks up. Then silence. Way too long.

When he finally talks, his voice is different. Careful. Slow.

"Miss Ferraro. Yeah. We're right above you in the boat."

He says my last name like it means something. Like he just remembered what it means.

"But the Don gave strict orders. Nobody comes down until the wedding's over."

I shake my head. I sign to him. My tank's empty. Empty. I'm going to die.

He thinks about it for a second.

"Look, technically the tank should last you till sunrise. But just in case, I'll send some spares down. The Don had us pack extras. He was worried something might go wrong."

I let out a huge breath. My hand goes to my stomach. My eyes fill up.

Baby, we're okay. We're okay.

Just hold on till morning. Mommy's getting you out.

A minute later, a tank comes down on a rope. The current pulls it off course.

I swim hard toward it. Screw conserving air. Screw slow breathing. I need this tank now.

I grab it. My heart drops.

It's empty.

I call the instructor. He's more freaked out than I am.

"Wait, hold on!"

I hear him checking the other tanks. He sounds confused.

"That can't be right. The rest are full. Hang on, I'll send you another one."

But the next one comes down. The gauge reads full. The tank is empty.

I call again. His voice is different now. Tight. Low.

"Miss Ferraro. Look. We're just guys doing a job. If we don't follow the Don's orders, we're out. My wife just had a baby. I need this job. Please don't put me in this position."

Then, so quiet I almost miss it:

"...I'm sorry, Miss Ferraro. I'm really sorry."

He says my father's name in it. Not out loud. But I hear it in the way he says Ferraro.

Like a man saying a prayer he can't afford to finish.

He hangs up before I can say anything.

One second later, Luca calls. He's furious. Barely keeping it together.

"How much longer are you going to do this?! He's given you three, four tanks already and you're telling me every single one is empty?!"

"You'd really burn the whole wedding down, wouldn't you."

"Keep this up and I'm not coming for you when it's over. You can wait till morning."

I shake my head. I sign as fast as I can.

"I'm not lying. The tanks are really empty."

"Luca. Please. I don't want anything. I swear. Just let me out. I'm going to die."

He goes still. Then Mama's voice comes through in the background.

"Luca, sweetheart, come on. It's time for the rings."

He looks back at me. He sounds exhausted.

"Giada. Enough. It's almost over. Just wait."

He hangs up.

I break.

Why is it so hard just to stay alive?

I call again. And again.

Nothing. Both numbers.

I let out a small, ugly laugh.

They blocked me.

Then the watch dies.

The tank runs out.

I hold my breath. My hand shakes. My thumb finds the Ferraro ring.

I close my eyes.

Papa.

I press.

Once. Twice. Three times.

Wherever you are. Whoever's still loyal to you. Anyone.

Please.

The ring is cold on my thumb. I don't know if it did anything. I don't know if anyone's coming.

I count down the last three minutes of my life.

I look up. Nothing but black.

There are no stars down here.

He lied.

Something moves in the dark. A shape. Coming toward me.