Miriam nodded, wiping her face with the back of her sleeve.

We slipped out the back alley door into the cold morning air.

The alley was narrow, smelling of wet asphalt and old garbage.

We walked quickly, Lucia’s small hand gripped tightly in mine.

Two blocks away, a silver sedan sat idling near the corner of the avenue.

The driver’s door opened, and Marco stepped out, waving us over.

“Get in, quickly,” Marco said, holding the back door open.

We scrambled into the leather seats.

The warmth of the heater hit my face, making me shiver.

Marco closed the door and got back into the driver’s seat, pulling immediately into the traffic.

“Where is Dominic?” Marco asked, looking at me through the rearview mirror.

“He went to the estate,” I said, holding Lucia close to my side. “He has the medical files.”

Marco’s hands tightened on the steering wheel.

“He shouldn’t have gone alone,” Marco muttered. “Caterina has the house secured. And Whitmore is already there.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out, my fingers trembling.

It was an unknown number.