Jay froze the moment his eyes landed on Leo's back.
"No…" he whispered under his breath, shock spreading across his face as he stepped closer. The injury looked worse up close, deeper and more serious than he had expected, the fresh stitches cutting across bruised, damaged skin in a way that made his chest tighten.
Alessandro stood beside the bed, his jaw slowly tightening as he took in the sight. The concern on his face was impossible to hide now. For a long moment, he said nothing, but the shift in his expression said enough. He did not like what he was seeing at all.
Bella remained by Leo's side, exhausted but unwilling to move away, as if stepping back even once might somehow abandon him.
Alessandro turned to her, his gaze softening instantly. He stepped closer and pulled her into a brief, gentle embrace, one hand resting against the back of her head as he patted her hair in a quiet, comforting way.
"Bella," he said softly, "you need to take some rest."
