Chapter 8

Luca received Marco's warning at midnight—a single encrypted message detailing Catalina's defection to the Morettis and the intelligence she'd carried with her. According to Marco, Luca sat motionless for ten full minutes after reading it. Then he asked one question. "Did this come from Isabella?" "Yes." Another silence. Then, quietly: "She's still protecting me." "She's protecting your daughter's father. She was very specific about the distinction." That landed exactly where I'd intended...