Chapter 96. Strength in Silence

Leila’s POV

“Just drop it, Luca,” I whispered.

Standing beside me, he was fixated on Dominic lying still, attached to machines that mocked life. “You don’t have to, Leila. I can manage. You’ve been here every day, hardly sleeping.”

“I need to be here,” I pressed, my throat tight. “What if… what if he wakes up and I’m not here? What if he—” The sentence couldn’t find its end, crushed like weight squeezed the breath out of me.

Luca’s comforting hand came up against my shoulder, heavy against the joints of my arm. “You’re going to drive yourself into the ground. I won’t let that happen.”

I nailed my gaze on him, fighting this pang of guilt that just about wanted to carve its place in my chest. The concern in his eyes was too much already. “I’m fine,” I said again.

“You’re not, he returned coolly, an edge of firmness to it. Look at yourself, Leila, you’re exhausted, and staying alone at Dominic’s apartment isn’t helping you one bit.”

“I d