The ties that bind

The house was silent.

Everyone was asleep.

Or at least, they were supposed to be.

Serena shifted under the blanket, blinking groggily as a sharp, stabbing pain shot through her ribs.

She winced.

It was worse than before.

She inhaled slowly, pressing a hand to her side, trying to breathe through it.

Her body was exhausted, drained, but sleep wasn't going to come back anytime soon.

With a soft sigh, she turned her head, expecting to see the empty side of the bed.

Instead, she found Raffaele and Alessandro.

Both of them were fast asleep, lying on either side of her like two overgrown guard dogs.

Serena blinked at them.

Then at the completely empty single bed in the corner.

"Idiots."

Alessandro was snoring softly, his arm half-draped over his face.

Raffaele had one leg sticking off the bed like he had fought demons in his sleep.

Serena rolled her eyes.

She knew why they were here.

They felt guilty.

Guilty for earlier. Guilty for everything.

And as much as she wanted to pretend it didn't affect her, a small part of her-a part she wanted to kill-felt warm at the thought.

But right now?

Her ribs hurt like hell.

Carefully, she slid out from under the blanket, moving slowly so she wouldn't wake them.

She pulled the door open, stepping out into the dimly lit hallway, the soft sound of the ocean humming in the background.

She needed medicine.

Serena stepped into the kitchen, flipping on the small light above the counter.

Her eyes immediately landed on the reason the room smelled like burnt regret.

Lorenzo.

Holding a plate of what used to be toast.

Now?

It looked like charcoal.

Serena raised an eyebrow. "Is that... food?"

Lorenzo sighed heavily, poking at the burnt slices. "Not sure yet."

She smirked, crossing her arms. "You trying to poison yourself, or is this just a new survival tactic?"

Lorenzo glared at her. "No one asked you."

Serena bit back a laugh as he picked up a piece and took a bite.

The way his entire face scrunched up was priceless.

"He actually ate it?!"

She watched as he slowly chewed, his eyes dark and unreadable.

Then, finally, in the most serious tone imaginable-

"Tastes like betrayal."

Serena snorted.

Lorenzo shoved the plate aside, letting out a long sigh. "We really should've brought a cook."