CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO – THE SAFEHOUSE

The apartment was sparse but clean. A bed, a small kitchenette, and a door that Rebecca assumed led to a bathroom. But what caught her attention was the large medical kit on the wall. "Thank God," she breathed, helping Luca to the bed. "Okay, we need to get that bullet out." Luca grabbed her wrist as she turned to get the medical kit. "Rebecca," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "I'm sorry... I got you... involved in this." Rebecca shook her head, tears threatening to spill. "Don't you dare apologize. We're going to get through this, okay? I'm not letting you die on me." She retrieved the medical kit, laying out the supplies on the bedside table. Her hands shook as she cut away Luca's shirt, revealing the angry red wound beneath. "I... I don't know if I can do this," she admitted, her voice quavering. Luca's hand found hers, squeezing weakly. "You can," he assured her. "I trust you." Taking a deep breath, Rebecca nodded. "Okay. Talk me through it." For the next hour, R