Luca braced his hands on the edge of the bed, breathing through the pain.
He clenched his jaw. He would deal with Bastardi. He would deal with Vito.
But first, Veronica Scalese.
He straightened as much as his injured body would allow.
"I'll have clothes brought." Marco sighed knowing Luca wasn't going to listen.
By the time Luca eventually got to Vee's apartment, his body was staging a quiet rebellion. His lungs burned, each breath shallow. The medication still swam in his bloodstream, blurring the edges of the world, turning the hallway into a narrow tunnel that pulsed with light.
His left hand dragged along the wall for balance, fingers brushing cold plaster. Pain bloomed with every step, a reminder that he had no business being upright. Still, he moved forward.
Because he needed to get to her. Now. He needed to look Veronica in the face and tell her the truth. It did not matter.
When he reached her door, he pushed it open. His eyes found her immediately.
