CHAPTER 176
ROMEO POV
The hallway fell unnaturally quiet. No screams. No footsteps. No chaos.
Just Katya's broken breathing. It was just the three of us now. Nonna. Katya and Me.
Nonna had wheeled herself as close as she could, her body angled awkwardly, one hand stretched toward Katya, the other gripping the armrest for balance.
I could see the strain in her shoulders, the frustration of being trapped in a body that wouldn't move fast enough when her heart needed it to.
"Tesoro," she murmured again, voice soft but shaking. "Look at me. You're safe now. No one is hurting you."
Katya didn't answer. She was still trembling—full-body shakes that came in uneven waves.
Her arms wrapped around herself too tight, like she was afraid she'd fall apart if she loosened her grip even a little.
Her gaze stayed fixed somewhere on the floor, unfocused, distant, as if she hadn't fully come back yet.
Her lips moved. No sound came out.
