Chapter 54

"What about your relationship with Ana María Polienni?" I asked. He had mentioned how much he had loved Venice, but not once had he referred to his current relationship with the youngest of the Polienni siblings.

Charles made a grimace, capturing my attention once again.

"According to what Adriano told me, they've been together for at least a year and a half."

Charles vehemently shook his head.

"That doesn't exist, Ana María is as crazy as her brother, and she made that up all by herself," he added as if the mere idea disgusted him. "We started dating after Venice's death."

I straightened up in my chair; now I was even more confused. If he loved that young woman so much, why did he start dating her cousin when her body wasn't even cold yet?

"What I'm about to tell you must stay between us; no one can find out, okay?" I nodded because I had no intention of putting his life in danger.

A thunderclap outside announced an