The First to Die at the End (Death-Cast #0)(70)

The story seems to strike a chord with Rolando.

“What made her finally leave?” he asks.

“She didn’t trust me to be raised by him . . . should something happen to her.”

“Do you mean if your father happened to your mother?”

All these decades later, and Clint is still furious at everything his wonderful mother had to endure. He grabs the napkin and wipes his tears.

“There’s a woman I love,” Rolando says.

“Does she love you back?”

“She’s married.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Rolando sips his coffee. “I hope she does. I think she does. But she won’t leave her abusive husband because of their son. I wish Gloria had the common sense to leave like your mother. I’m scared her husband is going to kill her one day.”

“Have you told her this?”

“It hasn’t felt like my place.”

“When will you tell her? Her funeral?”

Rolando’s eyes water.

Clint thinks about that plane ride again. “I think it’s time for you to leave, my friend.”

“Did I say something wrong?”

“It’s about saying something right to the person who matters the most. While you can.”

Rolando tries paying, but Clint gestures him away.

“I’ve got this,” Clint says, waving Rolando’s money away. Clint has made a lot of money and invested in many places, including a dance club. “Go help Gloria.”

“Are you sure there isn’t anything else I can do for you?”

“Be a good role model to Gloria’s extraordinary son. Show him what a father should be.”

Clint himself never had any children. That’s a story for another person.

“Good luck with the rest of your day, Clint. I’m sorry we’ll lose you.”

“I hope you have a long life, Rolando.”

The two hug, and Rolando runs to the street, standing outside the window as he makes a phone call.

In all of Clint’s years of people-watching, this is the most connected he’s felt to someone outside his window.

It goes to show that even on your way out, there’s still time to let people in.





Gloria Dario


11:22 a.m.

Gloria wants the best for her son—always has, always will. But sometimes she worries about the career path Pazito is pursuing. For as long as she can remember, there have been horror stories about child actors with bright futures becoming unhappy adults, and the many ways in which they try burying that unhappiness.

When Pazito booked his first role as Larkin Cano in the last Scorpius Hawthorne film, she wasn’t worried about her son losing his childhood, since Pazito was only acting in a flashback scene as Howie Maldonado’s young self. Even though Howie plays Scorpius Hawthorne’s bitter rival, he was beyond lovely on set with both her and Pazito, and considering he’s grown up in front of the public eye, it gave Gloria hope that Pazito would be fine as well. Still, there have been a couple opportunities for Pazito to star as a series regular in sitcoms, and though Gloria will never admit it out loud, she was relieved when her son didn’t get the parts, even though it broke her heart to share the news.

Is it so wrong for a mother to want her child to be a child for as long as possible?

Gloria doesn’t want the answer.

She can’t face that question without thinking of the many times she’s failed her son by exposing him to the horrors in their home.

No child should grow up watching their parents fight.

Well, is it even a fight if one parent doesn’t ever hit back?

No, it’s not. That’s an attack.

Gloria keeps it together, not wanting to cry in front of the other adults and children in the waiting room. Whenever she’s away from Frankie, she tries not to think about him. Distance means he can’t harm her. It means she can bury the fear.

The most peace she’s known since being in this relationship is when she traveled to Brazil with Pazito for the Scorpius Hawthorne filming. Everyone was so welcoming. The cast showed Pazito all the rooms in the castle, sets he wouldn’t have stepped foot in since his only scene was in the library. Howie gave Pazito lots of pointers and encouragement and praise. The crew made sure Pazito’s dietary needs were met. And Pazito was surprised when the author of the original series, Poppy Iglesias, a queer trans woman, showed up on his last day of filming with a signed copy of the first book, the very book that Gloria believes has been instrumental in helping Pazito better understand himself, even if he hasn’t come out with those words himself. Watching her son be loved was the peace Gloria gulped down like fresh water, nourishing her soul. She was very tempted to stay in Brazil, but when Pazito kept talking about how he couldn’t wait to show his father the signed book, and all the pictures with his new friends at the castle, Gloria got on that plane with her son, dreading the entire flight home.

The door opens, and Pazito steps out along with a handler who nods at Gloria before accompanying another child into the audition room.

“How do you feel?” Gloria asks.

She doesn’t like asking Pazito how he thought he did during an audition because if he believes he did his best and doesn’t get the job it’s made him sad in the past. Focusing on how the work made him feel instead has led to less disappointment down the line.