FRANKIE

I turn in bed for the hundredth time; the silk sheets that once felt luxurious now twist around me like chains. Sleep refuses to come, Kimberly's words echoing in my head like a broken record. The empty space beside me feels like a mockery - I'd gotten used to his warmth, his presence, and now the bed feels too big, too cold. I don't hate Rafael for what he's doing. How can I when the real pain comes from knowing I wasn't enough to change his mind? I feel like such an idiot for thinking I could be different that I could matter enough to stop him from destroying the man my sister loves.

Fresh tears burn behind my eyes as I imagine Melina's world shattering when she learns about what Thomas has done. Shame claws at my chest - here I am, aching for the very man who's going to cause her so much pain. God, what kind of sister does that make me? I've never felt so fucking helpless, so desperate to do something, anything, to stop this train wreck.

A sudden crash outside my bedroom jolts me from my spiral of self-loathing, tears spilling down my cheeks. The bedside clock reads way too late for anyone to be up. My heart hammers against my ribs as I slide out of bed, slipping on my robe with trembling hands.

Just as my fingers graze the doorknob, it flies open. My breath catches in my throat.

"Leo?" His name barely leaves my lips before his hand closes around mine.

"There's no time to explain, Miss Francesca. We need to leave," he says urgently, pulling me into the darkened hallway.

The sight of Luca sprawled in his own blood hits me like a physical blow as we rush past. I barely knew him, but seeing him lifeless on the marble floor makes bile rise in my throat. My heart thunders against my ribs the entire escape, through the corridors, into the car. But then my stomach plummets when I realize we're not heading to the Costanzo estate - instead, the hospital's emergency lights pierce the night ahead.

"Is Mel okay?" The words tumble out, my heart threatening to burst through my chest.

"She's fine. Sotto Capo is the one who isn't. James shot him." Leo's words freeze the blood in my veins.

"James shot Thomas... not Rafael?" The relief that floods through me is so intense it makes me dizzy. A weight I didn't even know I was carrying suddenly lifts from my shoulders. The man who's consumed my thoughts, the one I've been trying so hard to hate for choosing revenge over me - he isn't the reason for my sister's pain. He isn't the monster in this story.

Leo guides me through sterile hospital corridors, filling me in the chaos of the past hours. By the time we reach the waiting room where Mel and the Costanzos huddle together, I've pieced together the whole nightmare. The weight of everything that's happened tonight feels surreal, but I push it aside. My sister needs me.

Leo guides me through sterile hospital corridors, filling me in on the chaos of the past hours. By the time we reach the waiting room where Mel and the Costanzos huddle together, I've pieced together the whole nightmare. The weight of everything that's happened tonight feels surreal, but I push it aside. My sister needs me.

Melina and I share our tearful reunion - hugs, worried words about Thomas, and questions about my escape. When she asks how I got away, I explain about Leo's rescue and Kimberly's involvement. From what Leo told me, that was probably her plan all along, separate from Rafael's. But it later changed when she helped James get Mel out of the house.

My heart pounds as I gather the courage to ask about Rafael. The conflicting emotions are almost choking me - relief that he didn't shoot Thomas, warring with the knowledge that he probably would have, given the chance. When I bring up that Leo didn't find Rafael or James at the scene, I also comfort Mel about shooting James.

I squeeze her hand as we discuss what she had to do. Watching my sister talk about shooting her ex-husband with such steady resolve shows me just how much she's changed. The Melina I knew before would have crumbled at the thought of hurting anyone. But she did what she had to do to protect Thomas, and she doesn't regret it. Neither do I - James deserves far worse.

The words tumble from my lips before I can stop them, my voice barely a whisper. "Uhm... do you think Rafael would come looking for me?" The question hangs in the air, heavy with unspoken fears and uncertainties. With Thomas fighting for his life, I can't help but wonder what the future holds for Rafael and me. Is seeing Thomas on the brink of death enough to satisfy his thirst for revenge?

Melina's brow furrows, confusion etched on her face. "Why would he?" she asks, and I realize that the question was more for myself than for her. I don't even know why I said it out loud, but now I'm left scrambling for an explanation.

"It's just that..." I trail off, my mind racing as I try to come up with a convincing answer. I can't tell her the truth, can't reveal the depths of my feelings for Rafael. Melina watches me intently, waiting for me to continue, but I shake my head, forcing a smile. "Nothing, I'm probably overthinking," I say, desperately trying to dismiss the subject.

"Okay," Melina replies, but I can tell she doesn't quite buy it. However, she doesn't push me further, and I'm grateful for her understanding. Her thoughts are probably consumed by Thomas right now, and I can't blame her for that.

Hours later, we receive the news we've been hoping for: Thomas has survived the gunshot. Relief washes over me, and I finally allow myself to breathe. I insist that Melina come back to the Costanzo estate with me, urging her to take a moment to shower and change her clothes before returning to the hospital. Reluctantly, she agrees, and I'm left alone with my thoughts once more.

As I lie in bed, exhaustion tugging at my eyelids, my mind refuses to rest. Images of Rafael flood my consciousness, and I find myself wondering if he'll still come after Thomas while he's vulnerable in the hospital or if he'll wait until he's recovered. A part of me desperately wishes that Rafael could let go of his revenge, that he could see that I'm enough, that we could build a life together.

But as soon as the thought crosses my mind, a wave of despair crashes over me. The crushing realization that I'm not enough, that I never will be shatters my heart all over again, just as it did the night before. Tears stream down my face, and I bury my head in my pillow, muffling the sobs that wrack my body. I cry until there are no more tears left to shed until the emptiness inside me is so vast that it threatens to swallow me whole.

Finally, as the first rays of dawn peek through the curtains, exhaustion claims me, and I drift off into a dreamless sleep. But even in slumber, I can't escape the ache in my chest, the longing for a man that seems forever out of reach.

***

The following morning as I make my way through the sterile hospital corridors, the weight of exhaustion bears down on me. My eyes, puffy and red from a night spent crying, struggle to stay open. In my hands, I clutch a bag filled with fresh clothes for Mel and homemade meals I prepared for her and Thomas. The familiar weight of my phone, newly returned after the chaos of recent events, feels strange against my palm as I check the time.

But as I approach Thomas's room, a voice from inside stops me dead in my tracks. It's Rafael, and the sound of his words sends a shockwave through my body. My heart pounds in my chest as I strain to hear their conversation, each word hitting me like a physical blow.

Rafael is offering a truce, a chance to end the war, and his relentless pursuit of revenge. He's even willing to return New York City to the Costanzos, a concession I never thought possible. But as I listen, my breath catches in my throat when I realize the price he's demanding: me.

The desperation in Rafael's voice is palpable, a raw edge that I've never heard before. It strikes a chord deep within me, resonating with the part of my soul that yearns for him despite everything. When he reveals that James is alive and offers him as part of the deal, I feel like the world is spinning out of control.

Before I can even process what I'm doing, I find myself pushing open the door, interrupting their tense negotiation. "I'll come with you," I say, the words spilling from my lips without hesitation.

Rafael turns to me, his eyes wide with surprise and something else I can't quite decipher. "Frankie," he breathes, taking a step towards me. But I raise my hand, stopping him in his tracks. The relief I felt last night about Thomas's survival may have softened the edges of my anger, but the betrayal still cuts deep. Rafael promised that Melina would be safe, yet he orchestrated her kidnapping. The trust between us has been shattered, and I don't know if it can ever be fully repaired.

We finalize the terms of our agreement, Thomas's protests falling on deaf ears. As Rafael leans in to kiss my cheek before leaving, it takes every ounce of my willpower not to grab him, to pull him close and never let go. But I'm not ready, not yet. Not when the wounds of our past are still so fresh when I'm still grappling with the question of whether we can ever truly move forward.

Later, as I leave Thomas's room, his parting words echo in my mind. "Rafael is a man of his word, Frankie. He'll come for you if you don't go to him." The warning doesn't scare me; instead, it serves as a reminder that I can't run from this forever. Sooner or later, I'll have to confront both Rafael and the feelings I've been trying so hard to bury.

But for now, I push those thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. I have to be strong for Mel, for Thomas, and for myself. The future is uncertain, and I don't know what lies ahead.