After she saw Leo fall asleep, Bella kissed his forehead softly, her lips lingering for a moment. His breathing was deep and even, his face relaxed in a way it never was when he was awake. The bandages were clean, the wounds covered, the bleeding stopped. He was safe. For now.

She slipped out of the room quietly, her bare feet silent on the cold floor, and went towards Jay’s room. The door was slightly ajar, and a soft light spilled out into the dark corridor. She pushed it open slowly.

Jay and Jace were sitting on the bed, both shirtless, both covered in bruises and bandages. Jay’s arm was in a sling, his shoulder wrapped in thick white gauze. Jace had a deep gash on his side, freshly stitched, the skin around it swollen and purple. Their faces were tired, and their eyes were hollow.

They looked up when she entered.

"Bella," Jay said, surprised. "You should be sleeping."

She didn’t answer. She walked to the bathroom, retrieved the medical kit, and knelt beside the bed.

Jay tried to wave her off. "I’m fine. It looks worse than it feels."

She ignored him and began checking his bandages. They were loose, like Leo’s had been, hasty and careless. She rewrapped his shoulder, her fingers gentle but firm.

Jay said quietly, "You don’t have to do this."

She didn’t look up. "I know."

She moved to Jace next, inspecting the wound on his side.

"It’s okay, Bella," Jay said, trying to comfort her. "I’m used to it."

She looked up at him. Her eyes were wet, but she wasn’t crying. Not yet. "Used to what?"

He gestured at his bandages, at Jace’s stitches, at the bruises on their bodies. "Used to this. Used to getting hurt. Used to patching up. Used to—"

"Used to almost dying?" Her voice cracked.

Jay fell silent. Jace looked away.

Bella finished wrapping Jace’s wound and sat back on her heels. She looked at them, at the people she had come to love like brothers, at the bruises and bandages and blood.

"What is this worth?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Is this mafia thing worth all of this? The injuries? The fear? The nights spent waiting, wondering if you’ll come home?"

Jay and Jace exchanged glances.

Bella rarely lost control like this. She was the sweetest one, the gentle one, the one who smiled through the pain. But now her hands were shaking, her lips trembling, and her eyes were filled with tears she couldn’t hold back.

"Every time I see any of you injured, my heart feels uneasy," she continued, her voice rising. "Every time Leo leaves, I wonder if he’ll come back. Every time you two go with him, I wonder if I’ll see you again."

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, but the tears kept coming. "Is it worth it? Is any of it worth it?"

Jay reached out and pulled her into a hug. He held her tightly, his good arm wrapped around her shoulders, his chin resting on top of her head.

"Bella," he said quietly, "you know we didn’t have a choice."

She buried her face in his chest and cried.

Jace put a hand on her back, his touch gentle and grounding.

Jay continued, "This life, it’s not something we chose. It’s something we were born into. Our father, his father, his father before him, generations of Morettis, all in the same life." He pulled back and looked at her face, his dark eyes soft. "We could walk away, but then who would protect the people we love? Who would keep you safe?"

Bella sniffled.

Jace said quietly, "This life is ugly. I know it’s brutal and unfair. But we use it to protect the people we care about." His eyes became dark as he thought about his sperm donor who was trying to harm Jay, Bella, and Leo.

Jay nodded. "Leo didn’t choose this life for himself. He inherited it. And he uses it to protect you, to protect us, to protect everyone who can’t protect themselves."

Bella wiped her eyes again. "It doesn’t make it easier," she whispered.

Jay shook his head. "No. It doesn’t."

They sat in silence for a moment, the three of them huddled together on the bed.

"I’m sorry," Bella said finally. "For losing control."

Jace said, "Don’t apologize."

Jay added, "Ever."

Bella nodded, taking a shaky breath.

Jay pointed at his right arm, his voice lighter. "Now, you forgot this. Help me rewrap this bandage. It’s been bothering me all night."

Bella laughed, a small wet laugh, and picked up the gauze. She worked quietly, her fingers steady now, her heart still heavy but no longer drowning.

When she finished, she kissed Jay’s forehead and then Jace’s. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Bella Bell," Jay said.

Jace added, "Sleep well."

She walked back to her room, climbed into bed beside Leo, and curled against his side. He stirred, his arm wrapping around her instinctively, pulling her close.

She closed her eyes and listened to his heartbeat.

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows, but none of the Moretti men were going anywhere.

Bella had made sure of that.

She woke up before Leo, slipped out of bed, and walked downstairs in her bare feet. Jay was already in the living room, trying to pull a shirt over his bandaged shoulder, wincing with every movement. Jace was sitting on the couch, lacing up his boots, his side still tender and his face pale.

Leo came down behind her, his arm still wrapped in fresh bandages, his expression tired but determined.

They all looked like they were getting ready to leave.

Bella stood in the middle of the living room, her arms crossed and her expression firm.

"Where do you think you’re going?" she asked.

Jay looked up, startled. "To work. There’s things we need to—"

"No."

"Bella—"

"No." Her voice was calm but unyielding. "You’re injured. All of you. You’re staying home today."

Jace opened his mouth to protest, but she held up her hand. "I didn’t ask."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Bella—"

She looked at him, her brown eyes steady. "I said no. You can’t even lift your arm. Jay can’t move his shoulder. Jace can barely walk without holding his side. You’re not going anywhere."

Jay looked at Leo. Leo looked at Jace. Jace looked at the floor.

None of them argued.

Jay muttered, "Yes, ma’am."

Bella nodded, satisfied.