~ELENA~

My fingers curl around the hand, and with one last breath, I step into the room.

Three sets of eyes lift at once. And every breath in the room stops.

They’re all there exactly as I pictured…..cleaned up but still bruised, shirts discarded or half-buttoned, tension humming beneath their skins like live electricity.

Nico is pacing near the window, jaw tight.

Riccardo sits on the couch, arms crossed, gaze unreadable.

And Vincenzo sits at the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, fingers laced together like he’s preparing for a confession… or a sentence.

All three of them stare at me with the same look….Fear, want, possession, love,...