The drive to the hospital felt endless. Elena pressed her forehead against the cool glass of the window, her heart thumping in uneven beats. Sofia sat beside her, clutching the handkerchief Lucian had given her, pressing it firmly against the gash on her head. The white cloth was already stained dark with blood.
The silence in the car was thick, broken only by the steady hum of the engine. Lucian didn’t speak. He sat across from them, his broad frame relaxed but his eyes sharp, never leaving the two girls for long.
Every time Elena glanced his way, she felt the weight of those eyes settle on her, as if he could read her thoughts, as if he knew every fear running through her.
When the limousine finally slowed, Elena lifted her head. Bright hospital lights glowed against the night sky, th
