“But I hurt you.” Kovit seemed to be struggling with the idea that someone could do something good for him when he’d done something so terrible to them.

“Thanks, I remember.” Fabricio absently rubbed his bandaged hand.

Kovit met Fabricio’s eyes. “Aren’t you angry at me? Don’t you want justice to be served and all that?”

“Not really.” Fabricio gave him a bitter smile. “And awful as this sounds, I’ve had worse.”

Kovit was quiet for a long moment, and then he said softly, “I’m sorry, Fabricio.”

Fabricio blinked. “Pardon?”

“I’m sorry I hurt you.” Kovit’s hands were clenched into fists on the hospital blanket, but his face was calm and his gaze steady. “I wish I hadn’t done it.”

Fabricio’s eyes were wide, and even Nita’s mouth was open a little. Kovit was apologizing to someone he’d hurt. Someone whose identity he’d erased in his mind to hurt them had slowly become a person to him, and eventually he’d felt regret. Nita could barely believe it. She hadn’t thought him capable of it. She’d thought it would break all his rules, break him, the way killing Henry had shattered something inside him.

But here he was. Apologizing.

She’d noticed the changes in Kovit since Henry had died, but she’d never thought they would lead him here. She wasn’t sure what she thought of it.

This apology was different than Kovit’s desperate pleas when he’d spoken to his sister. The tone, the action, everything had changed. Kovit hadn’t really regretted hurting that INHUP agent, he’d only regretted his sister found out.

Nita thought he might genuinely feel remorse about Fabricio.

“You don’t need to forgive me. That’s not why I apologized.” Kovit spoke quickly, as though he wanted to get this over with. “I just wanted you to know. I wanted to say it. And, if there’s anything I can do to make it up to you, just ask.”

Fabricio hesitated, and Nita’s eyes turned to him. This was all new territory. She had no idea how Fabricio would react, no idea how his reaction would influence Kovit. What had it taken for Kovit to make that kind of apology? What would it be like for Fabricio, who’d been brutally tortured multiple times in his life, to hear that?

The silence hung for a moment, everyone waiting to see what the others would do. Fabricio’s face was a careful mask, but she could see the decisions swirling in his eyes, conflicting emotions and thoughts battling together.

Finally, Fabricio took a step forward and put his hand on Kovit’s shoulder. “It’s okay, Kovit. I forgive you.”

Kovit’s eyes went huge. He looked so fragile in his hospital bed, so small and breakable. “Pardon?”