Page 109 of Lupo

"And then we start planning the Florence hit. We need to move fast before word gets out that you’re back."

The car climbs into the hills, the bay spreading out below us. The water is blue and bright, dotted with boats. Beautiful. Nothing like the dusty farmland I've been living in.

We turn onto a private road, winding up through trees. Then we pass through a gate—iron and imposing—and pull up to a villa.

My villa.

It's massive. White stone, modern architecture, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the water. There's a pool, terraced gardens, a garage that probably holds multiple cars. Everything gleaming and perfect and expensive.

I built this. Bought it with money I earned by clawing my way up from nothing.

But I feel nothing looking at it. No recognition. No sense of homecoming. No pride in what I accomplished.

Just a cold, empty certainty that this is where I have to be. Where I have to become someone I don't remember being.

The car stops in the circular driveway. Ciro gets out, comes around to open my door.

I step out and stare up at this place that's supposed to be mine. That I bought and lived in and filled with whatever life I had before.

"Welcome home, boss," Ciro says quietly.

Home.

The word is a lie.

But I nod anyway. Pick up the bag Isabella made. Walk toward the front door of this beautiful, empty villa. Because this is what I chose. This is what it takes to keep them safe.

I can do it.

I can do whatever needs to be done to eliminate the Florence family and make sure no one ever threatens Isabella and Elena again.

And then I'll go back.

Back to the farmhouse with its worn floors and patched roof. Back to morning eggs and bedtime stories. Back to a little girl who calls me Daddy and a woman who looks at me like I'm worth saving.

I just have to survive the next two weeks.

Just have to become a monster for a little while longer.

Then I can go home.

My real home.

Ciro leads me through the front door and I step into a life I don't remember. Into wealth and power and violence. Into everything I walked away from without even knowing it.

But I'll walk through it again. Will do whatever it takes.

Because on the other side of this—on the other side of the blood and the violence and the lies—there's a dusty farm with two people who became my whole world.

And I'm coming back to them.

No matter what it costs.

Chapter 30: Isabella

Two days.

It's been two days since Lupo left, and I haven't heard a single word.