The fight drained out of her body all at once. Her shoulders shook as the first sob escaped her throat.
Ricardo's grip softened instantly. He pulled her into his arms without thinking, holding her tight against his chest as she collapsed into him.
Her forehead pressed into his shirt, her hands clutching the fabric. "My sister is going to die!" Valentina wailed.
Ricardo wrapped his arms around her tighter, his hand sliding up to cradle the back of her head as she cried into him. He could feel the heat of her tears soaking through his shirt. "No… no… no… Babe, come on… Don't do this, please. Hey…" Ricardo soothed as she bawled.
He held her tighter. He wasn't used to seeing her like this. Valentina was fire. She laughed loudly, argued harder. "Listen to me, Val," he murmured. "Listen… this was just sheer bad luck. The gun wasn't even aimed at her. It was a stray." He lifted a hand to gently tilt her face upward so she would look at him.
Her eyes were swollen and glossy with tears.
