Alessia
The name Marco whispered to me before we left the estate and stayed with me like a ghost. "Emilio Ventura." I didn't recognize it. But Marco's eyes… they didn't match the words. There was something behind them, confusion, maybe even fear. And not of me. Of the answer he might get. Of what I might choose to do.
I told him I'd handle it. Outwardly, I was calm, collected. I kissed his cheek like I was doing him a favor. But inside, my mind was racing. Was this Dante's doing? Was he pushing Marco into a corner? Or pushing me into one? The pressure between them was starting to collapse in on me.
The estate felt too quiet as I slipped out, the gravel path crunching under my shoes like it was trying to pull me back. I drove with the windows down, letting the cool night air slap against my face, but it did nothing to clear the fog in my head. Every mile felt like a step deeper into a maze I hadn't agreed to enter.
