Chapter 55. Found

Gravel crunched under the tires as the car rolled to a stop in front of the house. Ezio was out before it fully halted, his expression unreadable.

One of the men straightened as he approached and opened the back door. “We got her, boss.”

Ezio stepped closer. A bundle of blanket sat slumped on the seat—small, shaking. The man reached in, pulling it upright. “She’s freezing. Been trembling the whole way.”

He tugged the blanket back to show her face.

Margherita flinched at the touch, her eyes squeezing shut as though bracing for another blow.

Ezio’s throat tightened. He crouched beside the open door and brushed a damp strand of hair from her face.

“It’s me,” he said quietly.

Her eyes opened slowly, dazed, unfocused.

Ezio exhaled and nodded to the men. “You did well. That’s enough.”

“Yes, boss.” They stepped back immediately.

Ezio slipped an arm beneath her knees, another around her shoulders, and lifted her out of the car. She