Then Antonella takes his hand. Squeezes it. Whispers something I can't hear.
Bruno's shoulders drop. He nods once, sharp and angry, and lets his wife lead him toward the stairs.
Lorenzo and Sophia follow. Then Nico and Kristen, Pietro. Vittoria guides Aria, who is still trembling, still clutching her scattered rosary beads.
Marina is the last to move.
I walk to her. Until I can see the questions she's not asking.
"I won't do it here," I say quietly. "Not now."
She searches my face. Looking for something. I don't know if she finds it.
Then she nods.
I watch her climb the stairs. Watch her disappear into the light above.
The basement feels colder without her.
I turn to Liam, who has been standing silently by the door throughout the entire conversation. The former SAS officer's face is unreadable. Professional. Waiting for orders.
"Stay with him," I say. "Don't let anyone down here except me."
Liam nods once. "Understood."
I take one last look at Alejandro. At the man who killed my family. At the man who shares my blood. At the monster who thought he could use my pain to destroy everything I love.
His eyes are wild above the duct tape. Furious. Terrified.
Good.
I climb the stairs without looking back.
The family is gathered in the living room when I emerge. Scattered across sofas and chairs. Shell-shocked. Processing. Drowning in revelations they never asked for.
Bruno is standing by the window, staring out at nothing. Antonella sits nearby, one hand resting on her pregnant belly.
Lorenzo has Sophia pulled tight against his side. Her face is buried in his chest. His hand strokes her hair in a rhythm that suggests he's comforting himself as much as her.
Nico stands apart from everyone, arms crossed, watching me with those calculating eyes.
Vittoria is kneeling beside Aria, speaking softly in Italian. Dmitri hovers nearby, protective even now.
Marina is sitting on the arm of a sofa. Alone. Waiting.
I stop in the center of the room. Wait until everyone's attention settles on me.
"Now," I say, "we need to talk about the plan."
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Marina
The basement air still clings to my skin as we gather in the study. I find a spot near the window, needing distance from the horror we just witnessed.
I never thought I would hear such a story.
To be honest, I thought these things only happen in movies. The kind of twisted family secrets that screenwriters dream up for shock value. But apparently, I'm going to face much more being around these people. The Sartoris don't live in a movie. They live in a nightmare that keeps unfolding.
