"Isabella." His hand tilts my chin up. "Please. This is important."
I nod because the seriousness in his voice stops my argument.
He reaches for his phone on the nightstand, opens something, and when he shows me the screen, I'm looking at a detailed map of the mansion.
"What is this?"
"Escape routes," he says quietly. "Blind spots in the camera coverage. Weak points in the perimeter. Everything you need to get out of this house safely if something goes wrong."
My stomach drops.
"Enzo—"
"Listen to me." His voice is urgent. "If Matteo changes his mind about the wedding. If Vittorio tries to force the issue. If the O'Rourkes come for you. If anything happens and I'm not here, you use this." He scrolls through the map, showing me each route. "This hallway, second floor east wing, blind spot where cameras don't meet. This window in the library, alarm delay. This door to the gardens, old lock. All of it."
"Stop." My voice breaks. "Please stop."
He looks at me and his eyes are devastated.
"You planned this," I say, tears already running down my face again. "You planned for me to survive without you."
"Yes."
"How long have you been planning this?"
"Since the cabin." He sets the phone down and takes my hands. "Since I realized I couldn't always protect you and that loving you meant making sure you could protect yourself."
Something breaks open in my chest.
"I can't do this without you," I whisper. "I can't?—"
"You're the strongest person I know." His thumb wipes away my tears. "You'll survive this."
"I don't want to survive it. I want you."
"I know." His voice cracks. "I want you too. So fucking much."
We hold each other in silence, both of us trying not to think about what comes next, trying to exist in this moment for as long as we can make it last.
But time doesn't stop.
"I have to go," he says finally. "If I stay any longer someone will find me and it’ll make everything worse."
"I know."
He sits up and starts getting dressed and I watch him, memorizing every movement, storing it away.
When he's dressed he comes back to the bed and cups my face.
"I sent the map to your email since you only have a burner for now," he says. "Study it. Memorize it. Promise me."
"I promise."
"If you need help and I can't get to you, call Rafael. He knows everything."
"Okay."
He kisses me one more time, soft and lingering, and when he pulls back his eyes are wet.
