Luca immediately released her. "It's okay. It's okay…"
"No, it fucking isn't," she gasped, bending around the pain. "Jesus Christ, Luca."
"I know, love." His voice softened. "I just need to pop it back in. It will only hurt for a second." He reached for her hand again, moving more slowly this time. "Trust me." He studied the injury properly. The thumb sat at an unnatural angle, but the problem was not only at the base. The second joint had shifted too.
His stomach dropped. "Oh, crap."
Veronica's eyes widened. "What?"
He turned her hand slightly, his touch feather-light. She hissed through her teeth. "We need a hospital."
"What happened?"
"Nothing. Nothing," Luca said quickly. "You did good, baby."
Her mouth trembled. "Luca—"
"You did exactly what you needed to do." He drew her carefully against his chest, cradling her injured hand between them so nothing could strike it. "Come here."
Veronica melted into him, her remaining strength abandoning her all at once.
