Chapter 30. A Life I’m Responsible For

The car rolled down the long drive toward the villa, the tires crunching over gravel slick with evening frost. Dario sat beside him, silent for once, staring through the windshield.

Ezio’s hands rested on the steering wheel, his expression unreadable, though the conversation from earlier still burned in his thoughts.

Costanzo Rinaldi.

Old, calculating, dangerous. The kind of man who never risked his own neck when someone else could do it for him.

Ezio had dealt with men like him all his life—but rarely had one managed to unsettle him the way this did.

He’d rather sacrifice me, the girl, anyone—as long as she stays hidden.

Dario finally spoke. “The old bastard didn’t even flinch. He’d cage her himself if it kept his conscience clear.”

Ezio exhaled slowly, his jaw tightening. “He made it clear. We’re keeping her until he decides otherwise.”

“Meaning,” Dario said, “we’re the ones taking the bullet if Benedetti finds out.”

“Ex