CHAPTER 175
ROMEO POV
_All words in italics are spoken in Italian_
"No—no—no—" Katya whispered frantically, scrambling backward again, palms slipping on the marble as she tried to put distance between herself and everyone.
"I didn't— I didn't mean— I thought— I thought—" She folded in on herself completely now, forehead dropping to her knees, arms wrapped around her head like she was bracing for a blow that never came.
"I'm sorry," she choked. "I'm sorry—I'm sorry—I didn't—please—"
I looked down at nonna, her hand trembled where Katya had struck it, but her eyes were locked on the girl curled against the wall.
Not angry but devastated. I reached for the handles of Nonna's wheelchair again, my fingers tightening until the leather groaned.
Every protective instinct I had—the ones I'd honed since I was a boy—screamed at me to get her out of the splash zone.
"We're leaving," I said, already pulling the chair back. "Antonio, call the doctor. Now."
