That look.
A flicker of something that felt... off.
“I wouldn’t be here right now if I had the luxury of explaining everything,” he said.
There was tension in his voice now.
He met my eyes again.
“Vincenzo sent me here to sit with Violet while he handles... other things.”
I folded my arms, watching him carefully. “Then explain quickly.”
A pause.
Renzo exhaled, slow.
“I’ll tell you the full story later,” he said, quieter now. “About how she pulled him out of that ambush when he was sixteen. Took a bullet meant for him. Nearly bled out in his arms.”
My breath caught slightly.
That explained a lot.
“But not here,” he added. “Not now.”
I hesitated, then gave a small nod.
“Okay.”
Silence stretched between us for a moment.
Then—
Renzo studied my face.
“You’re okay, right?”
The question was simple.
But it landed heavier than anything else.
I let out a slow breath.
“No,” I admitted honestly. “But I will be.”
Renzo gave a small, crooked smile.
“You’re tougher than any of us deserve, Elena.”
The words lingered.
Unexpected.
And somehow... grounding.
He pushed off the wall, already shifting back into motion.
“I need to get back,” he said. “Vincenzo doesn’t like leaving things unattended.”
