The sirens faded behind them as Alessandro drove through winding mountain roads, Clara's hand still in his, Isabella scanning the rearview mirror for any sign of pursuit. His shoulder throbbed, blood seeping through the makeshift bandage Isabella had tied while they'd been on the move.
"Where are we going?" Clara asked, her eyes wide as they passed through a small, forgotten town with cobblestone streets and faded storefronts.
"To a safe house," Alessandro said, his jaw tight. "It's hidden in the mountains—no one knows about it but me and Isabella. Not even Enzo."
They turned onto a dirt road that climbed steeply into the hills, the car bouncing over ruts and rocks. After twenty minutes, they reached a small wooden cabin nestled between two pine trees, barely visible from the road. It looked abandoned—windows boarded up, roof spotted with moss—but Alessandro knew better.
He parked behind a cluster of boulders and led them to the front door, tapping a sequence of knocks against the wood. A moment later, the boards on one window slid open, revealing the face of an old man with silver hair and sharp, watchful eyes.
"Rico," Alessandro said, his voice softening. "It's me."
The old man's face broke into a smile. "Alessandro! I thought I'd never see you again. Get in, get in—before anyone follows."
Rico unbolted the door and let them inside. The cabin was warm and cozy, with a stone fireplace, wooden furniture, and shelves lined with books and medical supplies. He'd been Alessandro's mentor years ago, teaching him to fight, to survive, to trust his instincts.
"Let's take care of that shoulder," Rico said, noticing the blood. "Isabella, get the first-aid kit. Clara, you sit—you look like you've seen a ghost."
As Rico cleaned and stitched Alessandro's wound, Isabella updated him on everything: Enzo's betrayal, Salvatore's pursuit, the lie that had turned brother against brother. Rico's face grew grim as he worked.
"Salvatore has a way of twisting the truth," he said. "He did it to my son, too—turned him against me, made him think I'd abandoned him. I never saw him again after that."
Alessandro's jaw tightened. "I won't let that happen to Enzo. He's still my brother—he just doesn't know it yet."
Rico finished the stitches and patted his shoulder gently. "Then you'll have to show him. But first, you need to rest. Salvatore won't stop looking, but he won't find you here. Not yet."