Chapter 362

• VALENTINA
• ~•~
• The safehouse medical wing felt smaller than ever as Nunzio held out the secure radio, Vitale’s presence crackling through the line like poison seeping into our fragile peace. Luca’s small hand stayed clutched in mine, his breathing steadier now under the steady drip of medications, but his wide eyes flicked between Gustavo and me with quiet fear. The monitors beeped softly in the background, a constant reminder that his little body was still fighting on multiple fronts. Gustavo sat rigid beside me on the edge of the bed, his bandaged thigh and shoulder pulling tight with every subtle shift. Fresh blood had stopped seeping for the moment, but the pallor of his face and the tremor in his fingers told me the transfusion was barely keeping him upright.