Her chest burned, her head spinning as her body tried to stabilize. Across from her, Luca did the same.
He tilted his head back slightly, taking in a deep, steady breath—then another—his chest rising fully this time, his lungs finally expanding without resistance.
Veronica slowly lifted her head, her eyes still wide, still unfocused as she tried to understand what had just happened. "What…" her voice came out hoarse, barely there. "What is this?"
"You are a crazy woman," he said. "You're crazy."
Veronica just stared at him, still trying to piece everything together.
"Not exactly the end I looked forward to," he added, running a hand through his hair as he drew in another deep breath, his body finally settling now that the air had returned.
Relief flickered across his face—but so did something heavier. That moment— That split second where she chose to pull the trigger on herself instead of him—
Had told him everything he needed to know.
