A lie, but one that might push him into revealing the truth.
Vincenzo’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. Then, in a whisper, he said, “They already took it. It’s gone.”
My pulse hammered. “Who took it?” I grabbed his lapels, pulling himcloser. “I must find it. There’s a demon hunting my wife, and we need the dagger to vanquish him.”
Vincenzo twisted, trying to free himself from my grip. “Are you one of Costa’s men?”
He shoved against me, trying to break away.
I released him, my mind racing. “I don’t know anyone named Costa. Who is he? And what does he have to do with the Sun Dagger?”
Vincenzo stepped back, rubbing his throat where my grip had crumpled his collar. His eyes returned to the door; his body tensed as if he were considering escape.
“Raul Costa,” he said, voice tight with bitterness. “He’s a Timehunter. He sent his men here to attack my father. I couldn’t save him.”
I frowned, scratching my cheek. “A Timehunter? What’s that?”
Vincenzo didn’t acknowledge my question. His voice thickened with emotion as he pressed on. “They attacked Cecilia and me, too.” He pushed back his sleeve, revealing deep, jagged scars that snaked up his arm. Then, lifting the hem of his shirt, he showed me more wicked pink slashes across his abdomen. “We played dead, waiting for them to leave. They tore the house apart and found the Sun Dagger’s hiding place… only then did they finally go.”
His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the red-tiled floor, his head dropping into his hands.
“My father was a scholar. A gentleman,” he rasped. “Not a warrior. Not evil. He spent his life guarding that cursed knife. And in the end, his oath to protect it cost him everything.”
A horrible sob tore from his throat, his grief unfiltered. “They robbed us. They tried to kill us. And now Costa wants me dead too, for the same reason he killed my father. He thinks I know something.” He lifted his head, his eyes blazing with fury. “Raul Costa is a dangerous, despicable man.”
I crouched beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder. “I can help you.”
Vincenzo’s face crumpled with rage. “I don’t want your help.” His voice was a snarl, his grief now burning into something edgier. “I want nothing to do with you or anyone involved in time travel.”
Before I could react, he shot to his feet, yanking me up with surprising strength. “Get out!” His grip turned iron-like as he shoved me toward the door. “Stay away from me! Don’t ever darken my door again!”
The next thing I knew, I was stumbling onto the porch. The door slammed behind me so violently that the entire house shuddered.
I exhaled, staring at the closed door.
“Didn’t go as well as you thought?” Tristan’s voice drawled from behind me as I strode toward my horse.
I ignored him, freeing the reins and mounting the horse. Without another word, we turned back toward the count’s estate.
I let Vincenzo’s words bounce off me, keeping focused on the road ahead. My mind spun like a wagon wheel stuck in the mud, churning over the questions I had without finding a single answer.
Raul Costa. Timehunters. The stolen Sun Dagger.
I had no leads—only dead ends.
When we reached Count Montego’s estate, I dismounted, handing the horse’s reins to a waiting groomsman, and gave the stallion a firm pat on his sweaty neck. Still grumbling under his breath, Tristan was left to deal with his mule.
Somehow, I needed to get ahead of the game. If I kept running into walls, I’d never find the dagger, let alone Olivia.
A door to my right swung open as I strode across the marble foyer, making for the stairs.
Count Montego stepped out, his expression unreadable.
“Did you find Giovanni? How is he?”
I gripped the swirling wooden railing that flanked the staircase. “I’m afraid he’s dead, Count. He was killed six months ago.”
Montego’s face fell, his lips parting slightly before pressing into a thin line.
