Enzo's POV (surprise)

The car was silent except for the soft hum of the engine and Fina's uneven breathing. She was slumped against me, her body trembling every so often like she couldn't shake the fear clinging to her.

She was too small. Too fragile.

Her hair was damp from tears, sticking to her pale face. I gently pushed it back, my hand brushing against her cheek. She flinched, even in sleep, her body tensing before slowly relaxing again. My chest tightened at the reaction.

She didn't trust us yet. Not fully. Not after what she'd been through.

Dante sat in the front, his hands gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were white. He hadn't said a word since we left the house, but I could feel the rage radiating off him. He wasn't just angry; he was drowning in guilt.

"She's shaking," I finally said, my voice low to keep from startling her.

Dante's jaw tightened, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror to glance at her. "We'll fix it."

I let out a quiet sigh, pulling my jacket off and draping it over Fina's shoulders. She stirred slightly, her head shifting against my chest, but didn't wake.

"You think it's that simple?" I asked, keeping my tone even. "She's been living in hell for years. It's going to take time."

"I don't care how long it takes," Dante snapped, his voice sharp. "We'll fix it. We'll give her her life back."

His words were laced with conviction, but I could hear the cracks beneath them. This wasn't something we could punch or intimidate our way through. We could protect her from the outside world, sure. But who was going to protect her from the ghosts inside her?

"She needs more than us, Dante," I said quietly. "She's been hurt too deeply."

Dante didn't respond, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

I looked down at Fina, watching the way her fingers clutched the jacket like it was a lifeline. Her breathing had steadied, but there was still tension in her body, even in sleep.

"Do you think she even remembers us?" I asked, the thought gnawing at me.

"She will," Dante said after a long pause. "We'll make sure of it."

I didn't argue, but deep down, I wasn't so sure. The girl who used to trail after us, laughing and smiling, was gone. This was someone else. Someone who had learned to survive through silence and fear.

But she was here. She was alive.

And that was enough for now.

I shifted slightly, trying to make her more comfortable. Her head rested against my chest, and I could feel the faint beat of her heart beneath her fragile frame. It was a reminder—she was stronger than she looked.

I leaned back kissing her forehead gently, my hand resting protectively on her shoulder as the car sped through the dark streets. Whatever it took, however long it took, we'd be here for her.

She wasn't alone anymore.