The call went dead, and Amelia's hand weakened her hold. The phone clattered loudly on the bedroom floor and she sank her head into her hands, hoping this was all just a bad dream.
As if to mock her further, her phone chimed with a new message. It was only a single line― an address that was sent from her father's phone. A broken cry emerged from her throat.
"Amelia? Is something the matter?" There was a brief knock on the bedroom door before Matteo entered. "I heard something drop."
That wasn't all he heard; even with the thick bedroom door muffling most of the sound, his ears could vaguely make out the sound of Amelia's raised voice, all the way from the living room. It caused him to worry. It was rare for Amelia to lose her cool when conversing with her father. Had his condition worsened?
Then his eyes caught sight of Amelia's huddled figure on the bed. Warning bells rang in his head as he dropped to his knees and cradled her in his arms.