ella

he stairs, Lorenzo right behind me.

ed Matteo's

od. Matteo stood near the wreckage, his small hands clenched into fists, his breathing ragged.

st tig

rst. He took a slow step f

o fli

nt shattered som

nzo, shielding Matteo before I cou

le

me, his presence heavy, te

asked softly, ignoring the

ted before sha

gently. "Acci

round the hem of his sweater

y behind me. "Go wait

face him.

s an o

This wasn't a request. This was the side of hi

n't afrai

hose small frame was rigid,

gment, I turned on my heel

t go do

door, pressing my back against the

nzo's voice. low,

amn lamp in this house

le

arely a whisper. "Mom w

est a

as quieter, almos

ng p

he one question that

ng to make h

mach t

t time, I wasn't sur

breath,

een Lorenzo and Matteo, th

ly answered, his v

s making

said them sent a chill through me. It wasn't a reassurance, it was

f to step away from the door be

the kitchen, trying to shake the u

ed into his home. But now, standing in the dimly lit kitchen, I couldn't shake t

re to take ca

get i

get too

o late for th

tairs made me tense. I turned j

maybe. Frustrated. But his e

against the counter. "I told him

my arms.

ed slightly. "You're

way he said it mad

needed me. But there was something else lurking beneath

nted to?" I a

w tigh

to convince y

ran down

a loud thud came from

to dangerous in the span of a heartbeat. His hand went to h

d, his voice sharper t

t the type

, I followed as he s

d it open, I bare

reshold, blood dripping from h

asped, swaying sligh

went rigid. His finger

man's kne

t before he collapsed ont