So I wasn’t quiet. I take in the dampness at her hairline and realize her hair isn’t wet. It’s stuck to sweat.

“I woke you up,” I say.

She shrugs a shoulder. “I didn’t want to sleep anyway.”

“Nightmare?”

She bites her lip. “Yes.”

“They’re just dreams, you know. Not real.”

She looks at me curiously. “Does that work for you?”

It’s my turn to shrug my shoulder.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

“I’ll be fine. The assholes who did this won’t. You should get some sleep.”

“That’s what Amadeo said.” She reaches out a hand to touch a bruise on my lower ribs. “Can I stay with you?”

“Don’t want to sleep alone?”

She shakes her head.

“When did he leave?”

“I’m not sure. He went to bed with me, but that was a few hours ago, and he’s gone. Bruno too. It’s just the soldiers.”

“And you’re giving them a show in your underwear.” I take a sip from the bottle.

“I just walked down the hall to come here. Nobody looked at me.”

“They looked, trust me. Don’t prance around like this in front of them, understand?”

“I wasn’t prancing, and besides, I don’t care about them.” She takes the bottle from me and sips. “Do you know where he went?”

“Just running an errand.”

“What errand?”

“Nothing you need to worry about.”

“Does it have to do with my brother?”

“No.”

She looks at me like she doesn’t quite believe me but decides not to pursue it.

“How much did you drink?” I ask.

“A little.” She lies down and turns on her side toward me.

“More than a little I think.” I lie down on my back, and she curls into me. I wince when she lays her head on my chest but again swallow down the pain and wrap an arm around her. “What time is it?”

“Three in the morning.”

It’s late. I pick up my phone from the nightstand to see if Amadeo’s texted but nothing. I send him a text.

Me: How is the good doctor?

The three little dots begin to undulate as my brother types, and the relief I feel surprises me. Lucien’s attack rattled me. Not for what they did to me, but for the fact that he got to us so easily, and I guess I’m more worried than I realize.

Amadeo: Don’t know yet but my gut says this is going to be bad. Dandelion sleeping?

Me: She just crawled into my bed.

Amadeo: Keep her there.

I glance down at the top of Vittoria’s head. Her breathing is even. I wonder if she fell asleep.

I set the phone aside and hug Vittoria closer.

“Where did he go?” she asks without moving.

“Nowhere, Dandelion. Get some sleep.”

“Are you going to be here when I wake up?”