A Love Worth Surviving For

Luca's eyes flickered open, slow and heavy, as if the weight of the world rested on his eyelids. The steady beeping of the heart monitor was the first thing he registered—then the warmth of a familiar hand wrapped around his.

Evelyn.

She was sitting beside his bed, her fingers tangled with his, her head bowed as if in silent prayer. He tried to squeeze her hand, but even that took more effort than he expected.

Still, it was enough.

Her head snapped up, eyes wide with shock, then flooded with relief. "Luca…"

He tried to smirk, but his lips barely moved. "Hey, trouble." His voice was hoarse, his throat dry, but Evelyn didn't care. She let out a choked laugh, brushing away the tears streaking down her cheeks.

"Don't you ever do that again."

He exhaled a soft chuckle. "Define… 'that.'"

She glared at him, but her grip on his hand tightened. "Getting yourself shot. Almost dying. Making me feel like my heart was being ripped out of my chest."

Luca's smile faded slightly. He lifted his hand with effort, brushing his fingertips against her cheek. "I'm sorry."

She shook her head, pressing his hand against her face. "You don't get to be sorry. You just have to stay."

A shadow passed over Luca's eyes, a deeper exhaustion settling into his bones. "I don't know if I can promise that, Eve."

Her stomach clenched. "What do you mean?"

Luca swallowed hard, eyes drifting toward the ceiling. "Whoever did this… they won't stop."

Evelyn knew he was right. The attack wasn't random. It was a message. A warning.

But she refused to let fear dictate their lives.

She leaned closer, her face inches from his. "Then we fight."

He blinked slowly, as if trying to process the strength in her words.

"We?" he echoed.

"Yes. We." Her lips trembled, but her voice was steady. "I don't care how dangerous this gets, Luca. I'm not leaving you."

His gaze softened, something breaking inside him. "I don't deserve you."

She let out a breathless laugh. "That's too bad, because you're stuck with me."

A weak smirk tugged at his lips, and he sighed, as if surrendering to something he'd been fighting for far too long. "You're impossible."

"And you love me."

His eyes darkened, something deeper flashing behind them. "Yeah," he admitted, voice barely above a whisper. "I do."

Evelyn's heart clenched.

Luca had never said it before. Not like this. Not when he had nothing left to lose.

She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss against his forehead. "Then don't you dare leave me, Luca Romano."

He exhaled slowly, his hand tightening around hers.

"I won't."

For now, it was enough.

---

Next Chapter: Enemies in the Shadows

Luca may have survived, but the people who tried to kill him aren't finished. Can Evelyn and Luca fight back before it's too late?