“The docks are in chaos,” Luca said, looking back at Sofia. “The shipments are sitting in the harbor.”

“We need the authorization codes from the safe to clear them,” he continued, his voice rising.

“Alexander never kept those codes in the study safe,” Sofia said.

“Do not lie to me, Sofia,” Luca said, taking a step toward her.

“I am not lying,” she said, standing her ground.

She did not look away from his face.

“You are panicked, Luca,” she said. “Why are you so frightened?”

“I am not frightened,” he said.

A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his temple, despite the draft in the hall.

“You look like a man who has run out of time,” Sofia said.

Luca’s phone buzzed in his hand again, three short, violent vibrations.

He looked down at the screen, his face pale under the yellow light.

I watched his thumb tremble as he swiped the screen.

He didn’t type a response this time; he simply stared at the message.

Outside, the rain lashed against the glass with renewed fury.

A branch scraped against the windowpane, sounding like fingernails on glass.