Chapter 79

Aaron shook his head, colder than Tav had ever seen him. “Then I’ll tell you after I’m done with him.”

* * * *

The walk up to the ward was getting familiar, but the loneliness when he got there wasn’t. Luca was on his own, the curtains open and the bustle of the ward low and quiet when Tav stepped into the cubicle and drew the curtain around. There were new magazines on the side, and a water bottle he thought possibly belonged to Tomas, but no bags or coats. Whoever had been here was gone.

So Tav pulled up the chair and slid his fingers carefully under Luca’s good ones. “Hey,” he whispered, but Luca slept on. His broken arm was laid over the sheets again, the fingers poking out of the plaster feebly, and Tav hesitantly slid a finger under the tips until it was—almost—like Luca was holding his hand.