All Luca could think was how. All everyone needed now was for him to be okay. That was it. Luca just needed his brother alive.
Veronica held Matteo closer, rocking him gently against her chest. The baby had finally settled, his tiny mouth slightly open, his little fist curled.
Valentina still hadn't moved. Eyes fixed on nothing, face pale, hands folded. She looked like one wrong word would shatter her until the whole hospital understood what loving Marco cost.
So Veronica stayed close. That was all she could do.
Every few minutes, a nurse walked past.
Luca's phone rang. Veronica turned at once. Luca looked at the screen, and answered. He lifted the phone to his ear. "Yes." He listened.
For ten seconds, he did not speak. His expression became colder. Veronica's stomach dropped. She didn't need to be told things had just moved from worse to even worse.
