(It wasn't until a full five minutes later, when Dora realized that she was fine and nothing seemed to be wrong with her, that she slowly began to settle down. Her breathing evened out at last, the tight ache in her chest easing little by little. The pounding in her ears softened into a dull hum.
Even as the nurses did their best to help her, guiding her through a few breathing exercises, she found that they actually helped. Inhale slowly. Hold. Exhale. Again. Her trembling fingers gradually relaxed against the fabric of the couch, though her heart still beat faster than normal.
Dante reached out once he arrived, his expression controlled but tense, and after confirming that Dora was fine, he agreed with Ettore's decision not to leave the estate until investigations were carried out to find out who could have done it. His jaw tightened as he listened, eyes dark with restrained fury.
