Chapter 41. The Invitation

The office was buried in the back of the warehouse—a narrow room behind rusted doors and a wall of crates that smelled of salt and diesel. No windows. Only the steady hum of a single overhead light and the distant groan of the docks at night.

Ezio stood over the table littered with blueprints, photographs, and cigarette ash. A map of the Altieri estate lay spread in front of him, edges curling from use.

Dario leaned against the wall, a file tucked under his arm. “New intel from our contact inside,” he said, dropping the folder beside the map. “The Benedettis finalized the venue.”

Ezio didn’t look up. “Where?”

“A church outside the city—San Clemente. Old, isolated, too far from the main road for police to stumble in by accident. Benedetti’s been throwing money at renovations for months. He wants a spectacle.”

Ezio’s jaw tightened. “Security?”

“Private. His own men. Half of Simona’s household staff will be there too, dressed like event personnel. Th