Chapter 54. Runaway

They were halfway back when the phone rang.

Ezio glanced at the screen—Rosa.

He answered immediately. “What is it?”

Rosa’s voice came fast and uneven. “Ezio—she’s gone.”

He frowned. “What?”

“Margherita. I—I turned around for a moment, and she—she’s not here. The boots are gone, the gate’s open—” Her breath hitched. “I don’t know when she—oh, Dio, I didn’t even notice—”

Ezio’s knuckles whitened around the phone. For a heartbeat, he couldn’t move, couldn’t think. Then his voice came out low, controlled.

“Rosa, listen to me. Lock the doors. Stay inside. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

“But, Ezio—”

“Stay calm,” he cut in, firm but not unkind. “We’ll find her.”

He hung up and slammed the phone down on the console, cursing under his breath.

Dario glanced over from the driver’s seat. “What happened?”

“Margherita ran.”

“What?”

“She’s gone. Slipped out through the back.” Ezio’s jaw clenched. “Cal