Luciano
I stared at the message longer than I should have.
For a second, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.
The words stayed the same.
Aria is awake.
Something in my chest loosened so suddenly that I had to lean back in my chair. The air I drew in felt different, lighter, like I had been holding my breath for days without knowing it.
Alive.
Awake.
She made it.
A slow breath left me, but it wasn’t enough to steady the rush that followed. Relief came first, sharp and overwhelming. Then something else followed behind it, something I didn’t want to name.
I ran a hand through my hair and straightened.
Focus, I said to myself.
I quickly typed a reply to Dagger.
“Okay. I have another message for you.”
I hit send without thinking twice.
The police situation could wait.
No
