ADRIAN
Luca cornered me the night before the flight. He didn’t knock. He just walked into my office, shut the door behind him, and crossed his arms like he was preparing for a fight.
“Why are we bringing Enzo?” he demanded. “You don’t trust him. I don’t trust him. Nico wants to throw him off a bridge. So why the hell is he coming to Italy with us?”
I didn’t look up from the documents I was reviewing. “Because I said so.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one you’re getting.”
Luca stepped closer, jaw tight. “Adrian. He’s hiding something. You know it. I know it. Why bring a snake into the den?”
I finally lifted my eyes to him.
“Because sometimes,” I said quietly, “you catch a snake faster when you let it think it’s free.”
Luca stared at me for a long moment, then exhaled sharp
