Ellie’s hand moved to her neck.
I glanced at Ringo.
He addressed Allie. “Ellie was lured into a dark space and almost strangled. All because they thought she was you. When their hitman didn’t return, and they couldn’t intercept you when you fled Milan, they took Don Manca.”
Allie’s hand shook as she turned the darkest photo to change the angle. “Who took this one?”
“I took it. I searched the man I killed and found his phone.” Ringo paused. “And I brought your sister here, so she’d be safe.”
Ellie bit her bottom lip. “It’s true,” she whispered. “I thought it was just one of those dangers you warned me about but…”
As Ellie trailed off, I filled in the gaps. “If what you and your sister told us is true, Dianora killed her brother. She tried to kill Ellie in Venice. Likely ordered her cousin to make an attempt in Milan. You were targeted today. My grandfather is perhaps too important to kill, but his power did not stop them from touching him. They will not stop unless I stop it. They want revenge for Adelmo, and for the dishonor to Dianora, but that’s on me, not you, nor my grandfather.”
Allie met my eyes. “I don’t know you, do I?”
“You know who I am. You knew when you approached me on the plane. You knew I was dangerous. That I’m an animal. But I’m not without honor. You and your sister will be safe on Sardinia.”
She took a breath that shook. “Without you.”
“Yes.”
Her fist hit the desk, scattering a few photos. The binder with her careful travel plans slid to the floor and spilled the contents like blood. Her eyes dared me to fight her. “No. I’ve saved money, we pay a ransom.”
“There is no money that can fix this.” It was a matter of honor, pride, their wounded plans, and of a bitter family broken by too many power-hungry rivals. “When I go to Don Conti in exchange for my grandfather, my family will send all of these photos to him, and tell him that his daughter was responsible. He will see he has been betrayed. And, Don Conti is not a forgiving man. I pity his daughter.”
Her head moved in silent denial. Those tears from her heart breaking gathered at the corners, threatening to spill.
“It’s late. Go to bed. Wait for me. I want one last night if he is…stubborn.”
Her mouth opened to tell me no. Nothing came out.
“You bastard.” Ellie grabbed her sister and pulled her out of the room.
I tipped my head to Ringo, indicating he should follow them. But he lingered instead.
“I told you to live a little, not stick your head in a noose.”
My fist tightened. “Like you?” He’d seduced my wife’s sister and discarded her on my doorstep with no more care than he treated his whores.
My quiet words made him flinch, but he rallied. “No. You’re not me. You care. You were born to care. I’m just a discarded blow-by. A mistake to bury. Eventually, I’ll do everyone I know a favor and die, but you…shouldn’t.” He frowned, showing more emotion than I’d seen from him recently. “Maybe I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.”
The quiet click of the door was louder than if he’d slammed it.
I spoke into the empty night. “You’d like to try again, wouldn’t you?”
Firenze moved from the shadowed alcove where there was a listening screen hidden. “He’s going to betray us all.”
“It is a possibility.”
“We don’t have enough soldiers to counter that.”
His words were true. “His orders are to get my wife and her sister to Sardinia. Be certain they are protected if he changes that plan.”
“Sì, Don Valentini.”
I stared into the shadows, counting my assets, moving the pieces around. No matter how I configured the plans, the solution was obvious. A trade was best for everyone.
Before I met Allie, it had been even simpler. Buy out Adelmo, or give my promise to Dianora, then watch for the knife she’d aimed at my throat, survive. I would have kept true to a truce that had lasted over eighty years. I was willing to die within the strict confines of a code older than the bones of this country.
