"A credit card!" Bella held it up triumphantly, waving it in the air like a trophy. "When he pinned me against the wall, I reached into his pocket and pulled it out. I slipped it into my bag right before I dropped it."

Leo stared at the card. Then at her. Then back at the card. His mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.

Leo’s voice came out strangled. "You pickpocketed him?"

Bella nodded very proudly. She even patted the back of her own head, which made Leo laugh despite everything. Cute bunny, he thought, his heart swelling. His bunny is the smartest and cutest in the whole world!!!

Leo took the card from her, turning it over in his fingers. The name on the front was unfamiliar, a pseudonym probably or an alias. But the bank was real, so the account was real. His mind was already racing through possibilities, connections, ways to trace it.

Leo’s voice was quiet, almost reverent. "This could be our lead."

Bella nodded, her eyes gleaming despite her exhaustion. A small, satisfied smile played on her lips. "I figured you’d want it."

He looked at her, at her tired eyes, her pale cheeks, her smug little smile. She had been attacked. She had been choked by smoke. She had collapsed and stopped breathing. And still she had thought to steal his wallet.

Leo shook his head in disbelief. "You’re incredible."

Bella shrugged, completely unbothered, as if pickpocketing a dangerous stalker was just another Tuesday for her. "I know."

Leo moved closer, his hand finding hers. His thumb traced small circles on her skin. "You could have just focused on getting away. You didn’t have to take anything from him."

Bella’s smile widened. "Where’s the fun in that?"

Leo chuckled, a low, warm sound that rumbled through his chest. And then He kissed her then, harder this time, deeper, pouring all his fear and relief and love into it. His hand cradled the back of her head, careful of the hospital pillow beneath her. When he pulled back, she was smiling like a silly.

Bella tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "So, are we going to track him down or what?"

Leo tucked the card into his pocket carefully. His expression shifted from soft husband to focused mafia boss in the span of a heartbeat. "We’re going to track him down."

Bella sat up straighter. Her eyes were bright with determination. "Do you need my help?"

Leo placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and pushed her back against the pillow with the tenderness of someone handling something very precious. "No need. You focus on your health."

Bella pouted, her lower lip pushing out in a way that made her look absolutely adorable. "But I’m the one who stole the card."

Leo nodded, not quite giving in. "And I’m the one who will use it to find him."

Bella crossed her arms over her chest. "I could track the transactions remotely. From bed. With my tablet. I wouldn’t even have to move a single muscle."

Leo raised an eyebrow, fighting back a smile. "You just woke up from passing out."

Bella waved a dismissive hand. "Details." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Leo crossed his arms, mirroring her. "Your lips were blue."

Bella’s eyes sparkled with mischief. "A fashion choice. Very trendy right now. You wouldn’t understand."

Leo stared at her, his expression caught somewhere between exasperation and adoration.

Bella wilted slightly under his gaze, but only slightly. "Fine," she mumbled, sinking back into the pillows. "I’ll rest. But only because you’re cute when you’re worried."

Leo’s lips twitched, fighting back a grin. "I’m not cute. I’m terrifying."

Bella reached up and patted his cheek, her palm warm and soft against his stubble. "Sure you are, honey. Sure you are." She patted his cheek again for good measure. "Very terrifying. Much scary. Wow."

Leo snorted. "Did you just quote a meme at me?"

Bella’s eyes fluttered closed, but her smile remained. "Maybe."

Leo leaned down and kissed her forehead, then her nose, then the corner of her lips. "Rest now, bunny."

Bella’s voice was sleepy now, fading. "Mmm..."

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

It had been three days, and Bella still hadn’t come back to college.

Mira sat in the back of the classroom, her eyes fixed on the empty seat near the window where Bella always sat. The morning light slanted through the glass, casting long shadows across the deserted desk. Dust motes danced in the golden beam, settling on the wooden surface where Bella’s elbows used to rest, where her notebooks used to pile up, where her laughter used to fill the space between lectures.

Bella’s seat was empty. And Mira missed her so much. She missed their time together, their walks between classes, their whispered jokes during boring lectures. Bella was a good friend. She was always ready to help with anything. She was so sweet, so warm, so endlessly kind. Talking with her always brought relaxation and happiness, like curling up with a warm blanket on a cold day.

Now the blanket was gone.

Mira’s chest ached. Her eyes burned. She had forgotten what it felt like to truly laugh until Bella came along. And now she had thrown it all away.

She had texted Bella seventeen times. Called eight times. Each time, the phone rang and rang and went to voicemail. Each time, Mira’s guilt grew heavier, pressing down on her chest like a stone.

She had betrayed her friend. Lied to her. Let Krystal steal her work.

What kind of person does that? Mira thought. What kind of friend?

She didn’t have an answer. Only shame.

Karl had also called too. Many times. Finally, someone had answered. A man’s voice, deep and calm, had said his name was Jay and he was Bella’s brother. He told Karl that Bella was sick. Karl said to take care of her, and Jay asked Karl to tell Bella about classes and everything that happened once she was fine.

Karl had relayed the message to Mira. Bella was sick. That was all they knew.

But Mira wondered. Bella had seemed fine before the fight. Before the slap. Before everything fell apart.

Was she really sick? Or was she just avoiding us? Avoiding me?

Mira didn’t know. And not knowing was its own kind of torture.