The private jet touched down at the small regional airport just after sunrise, its sleek exterior glinting in the early morning light. Luca Costello stepped out first, his broad shoulders squared and his expression carefully composed. Matteo, Nico, and Raffaele followed, each carrying their own mix of emotions.

Raffaele, the youngest, fidgeted with his jacket sleeves as he walked behind his brothers. His usual playful demeanor had been replaced with an uncharacteristic quietness, the weight of their reunion pressing down on him. Nico carried a duffel bag slung over one shoulder, his jaw clenched as he stared straight ahead. Matteo stayed close to Luca, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings out of instinct.

None of them spoke as they slid into the waiting black SUV. The silence was heavy, each brother lost in their own thoughts as they drove toward the hospital.

The girl sat on the edge of the hospital bed, her legs dangling off the side. She clutched the thin blanket tightly around her shoulders, the fabric swallowed by her too-small frame. She hadn't touched the breakfast tray Sarah had brought in earlier, and the untouched cup of apple juice sat next to a piece of toast that had gone cold.

Sarah stood nearby, her arms crossed as she watched the child with a mix of concern and helplessness. She'd explained that someone important was coming to see her today, but the girl had only nodded, her face expressionless.

"You don't have to be scared," Sarah said softly, crouching to meet her gaze. "They're your family. They already love you so much."

The girl's thin shoulders tensed. Family. The word felt foreign to her, like a language she couldn't understand.

Before Sarah could say more, the door opened. She turned to see a nurse ushering in four men, each one exuding a quiet intensity that filled the room.

Luca was the first to step forward. He froze the moment his eyes landed on the small figure on the bed. His usually composed expression cracked, his lips parting in a silent gasp.

She was so small. Too small. Her wrists were fragile, her cheekbones too sharp. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, and her dark eyes held a weariness far beyond her years.

"Ciao, piccola," Luca said gently, his voice thick with emotion.

The girl flinched at the sound, shrinking into herself. Sarah quickly moved to her side, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay," Sarah murmured. "You're safe."

Luca took a cautious step forward, lowering himself to one knee so he wouldn't seem so tall and imposing. His heart ached as he watched her retreat further, her body trembling under the blanket.

"Hi, sweetheart," Matteo said softly, stepping up beside Luca. His voice was smoother, almost coaxing. "You don't have to be scared. We're your brothers."

The girl's eyes flickered between them, her tiny hands clutching the blanket tighter.

Nico and Raffaele stayed back, their expressions equally pained. Raffaele's hands were buried in his pockets, but his knuckles were white from how tightly he clenched his fists. He felt like if he moved too quickly, he'd scare her even more.

"We're going to take care of you," Luca continued, his voice cracking. "You don't have to worry about anything anymore. I promise."

The girl's lips parted, but no words came out. She just stared at them, her dark eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"It's okay, little one," Nico finally said, stepping forward. His voice was quiet but steady. "We've missed you so much."

At those words, a single tear slipped down the girl's cheek. She wiped it away quickly, as if afraid someone would scold her for crying.

Luca felt his chest tighten. "Oh, tesoro, it's okay to cry. You've been so brave for so long, haven't you?"

That broke something in her. She let out a small, choked sob, her fragile frame shaking as the tears fell freely.

Without thinking, Luca reached out, his large hand hovering in the air for a moment before resting gently on her shoulder. She flinched at first but didn't pull away.

"We're here now," Luca said softly, his own eyes glistening. "And we're never letting you go again."

The girl fell asleep not long after, her exhaustion finally winning over. Sarah stepped out of the room to give the brothers some privacy.

"I don't know how we're going to fix this," Matteo said quietly, running a hand through his hair.

"We don't need to fix her," Luca replied firmly. "She's not broken. She's just...hurt. And we're going to help her heal."

"But did you see how scared she was of us?" Raffaele asked, his voice cracking. "She doesn't even know us. What if we make it worse?"

"We won't," Nico said, his tone resolute. "We'll go as slow as she needs. No pressure, no expectations. Just love."

Luca nodded, his gaze fixed on the small figure in the bed. "She deserves that and more. And we'll give it to her. Every single day, for the rest of our lives."

Raffaele swallowed hard, his throat tight with emotion. "She's so small," he whispered. "How could anyone...how could they do this to her?"

No one answered. The silence stretched on, filled with unspoken grief and anger.

But beneath it all, there was hope. A fragile, flickering hope that they could give her the life she'd always deserved.

And they would. No matter how long it took, no matter what it cost, they would give her a family, safety, and love.

They would give her a home.

The hospital room was quiet, save for the faint beeping of monitors and the occasional rustle of the blanket as the girl shifted in her sleep. Luca sat in the corner of the room, his elbows resting on his knees and his hands clasped together tightly. His dark eyes were fixed on her small, fragile form, every rise and fall of her chest grounding him.

Matteo stood by the window, staring out at the pale morning sky. His arms were crossed, and his usually sharp features were softened by worry. Nico sat on the floor, his back against the wall, silently tapping his fingers against his knee in a rhythm he didn't even realize he was keeping.

Raffaele, perched on the edge of a chair near the bed, leaned forward with his chin in his hands. His face was etched with guilt, though he had no reason for it. None of them did, but it didn't stop the feeling from creeping in.

"She looks so small," Raffaele whispered, breaking the silence.

"She is small," Matteo replied, his voice strained. "Too small."

Luca didn't respond, but his hand tightened into a fist. The shadows under her eyes, the way her collarbones jutted out beneath the hospital gown, the bruises on her wrists—it was all etched into his mind like a scar he couldn't erase.

"She needs food," Nico said quietly. "Good food. Proper meals, not whatever scraps she's been given."

"She needs more than food," Luca finally said, his voice low. "She needs everything. Safety. Love. Time to heal." He leaned back in his chair and rubbed a hand over his face. "And we'll give it to her. Slowly. Carefully. Whatever it takes."

The girl stirred, her small body shifting under the blanket. The movement was so slight that at first, none of them noticed. But then her lashes fluttered, and her fingers twitched against the edge of the blanket.

Luca was on his feet immediately, moving closer but careful not to startle her. Matteo turned from the window, his sharp gaze softening as he watched her begin to wake.

"Piccolina," Luca said gently, his deep voice barely above a whisper.

Her eyes opened slowly, blinking against the light filtering in through the blinds. She looked disoriented, her gaze darting around the room as if she couldn't quite place where she was.

"It's okay," Luca murmured, crouching down so he was at eye level with her. "You're safe, little one."

Her eyes landed on him, wide and unsure. She clutched the blanket tighter around herself, her breathing shallow and quick.

"It's okay," Matteo echoed, stepping closer but stopping at a respectful distance. "No one's going to hurt you. We promise."

Nico moved to the foot of the bed, crouching there so she wouldn't feel surrounded. "Hey, sweetheart," he said softly, his tone light and soothing. "You're in the hospital. Do you remember how you got here?"

She shook her head, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"That's okay," Nico said quickly. "You don't have to remember. You don't have to do anything right now except rest."

Her gaze flickered to Raffaele, who was still sitting near the chair. He gave her a small, tentative smile. "Hi, little one," he said, his voice unusually soft. "Do you remember me?"

She hesitated, then shook her head again.

"That's okay," Raffaele said immediately. "We just met yesterday. I'm your brother. I'm...uh, the funny one, apparently."

A tiny flicker of confusion crossed her face, but it was gone as quickly as it came.

"Are you hungry, tesoro?" Luca asked gently, his voice as soft as the down pillow beneath her head.

Her eyes darted to the untouched tray of food from earlier, then back to him. She shook her head.

"That's okay," Luca said quickly, his heart twisting. "You don't have to eat if you're not ready."

"We'll make sure there's something you like when you are," Matteo added, his voice steady but kind.

Her small hands twisted the blanket in her lap, her knuckles turning white.

"Sweetheart," Nico said carefully, crouching a little closer. "You don't have to be scared. There are no rules here. No one's going to get mad at you if you don't eat."

Her eyes darted to him, then back down to the blanket.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Raffaele said, leaning forward slightly. He waited until she hesitantly looked at him before continuing. "I used to hate hospital food too. It's the worst, huh?"

A tiny crease appeared between her brows, almost like she was considering his words.

"I can make you something when we get home," Raffaele offered. "Pasta, pizza, anything you want. I'll even let you pick the sauce."

She didn't respond, but her hands relaxed their grip on the blanket just slightly.

"Would it be okay if I checked on your arm, piccolina?" Luca asked carefully.

Her head tilted slightly, her brow furrowing.

"The doctor said we need to make sure it's not hurting too much," Luca explained. "But only if you're okay with it."

She hesitated, then nodded once, the motion small and uncertain.

"Thank you," Luca said softly, his chest aching at how much courage it must have taken for her to agree.

He moved slowly, pulling on a pair of gloves from the box by the bed. "I'm just going to unwrap it, okay? If it hurts, you tell me, and I'll stop immediately."

She nodded again, her small fingers gripping the blanket tightly as she watched him.

Luca worked with the utmost care, his large hands almost comically gentle as he removed the bandages. Matteo handed him fresh ones, standing close by in case she needed extra reassurance.

"You're doing so well, little one," Luca murmured as he finished. "Does it feel any better?"

She nodded hesitantly, though her gaze remained wary.

"Good," Luca said, his voice warm. "Thank you for letting me help you."

Nico crouched near the bed again, offering her a small smile. "You're a tough cookie, you know that?"

Her lips twitched, almost imperceptibly, but it was enough to make all four brothers exchange a glance of cautious hope.

As the girl settled back into the pillows, her brothers took their places around her again. The air in the room felt lighter, though the weight of her fragility still lingered heavily.

"Rest, tesoro," Luca said softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "We're not going anywhere."

And for the first time, she believed them.