They spent three days in the safe house, resting, planning, and waiting. Clara helped Rico cook and clean, her presence bringing a quiet warmth to the cabin. Isabella kept watch from the hills, her sniper rifle always at the ready. Alessandro spent his time thinking about Enzo—replaying their past, wondering how Salvatore had managed to turn him so completely.
On the fourth morning, Isabella returned to the cabin with a surprise. "Someone's coming up the road," she said. "Alone. He's not armed."
Alessandro grabbed his Beretta and went to the window. Through the trees, he saw a figure walking slowly up the dirt road—tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair that fell over his eyes. Enzo.
"He's alone," Alessandro said, lowering his gun. "Let him in."
Isabella hesitated. "Are you sure? It could be a trap."
"I'm sure," he said. "He wouldn't come alone if he wanted to hurt us."
Rico unbolted the door, and Enzo stepped inside. He looked tired, his clothes torn, his eyes filled with doubt. He didn't look at Alessandro at first—his gaze fell on Clara, then on Isabella, then on the floor.
"I came to ask," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "About Milan. About that day in the warehouse. Was it true? Did you leave me to die?"
Alessandro stepped forward, his heart pounding. "I ran to get help," he said, his voice raw. "I found a phone, called for reinforcements, and came back as fast as I could. But you were gone. I thought you'd escaped. I never—never—left you to die."
Enzo looked up, his eyes filled with tears. "Salvatore said… he said you'd taken the money from the job, left me to take the fall. He showed me a fake ledger, with your name on it."
"He manipulated you," Clara said, stepping beside Alessandro. "Just like he's manipulating everyone. He wants power, Enzo. He doesn't care about you—or anyone else."
Enzo sank into a chair, his head in his hands. "I've done such terrible things," he said. "I told him where you were, Clara. I helped him send his men after you. I betrayed you, Alessandro."
Alessandro sat beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "We all make mistakes," he said. "The question is, what do we do now?"
Enzo looked up, his eyes hardening with determination. "We stop him," he said. "Salvatore. I know his plans. I know where he's hiding. Let me help you take him down."