“He is resting,” I said.

Luca laughed, a short, harsh sound that made my skin crawl.

“He is dying,” Luca corrected me.

“And once he does, things are going to change in this house.”

He turned back to Marcus, pointing a manicured finger at the paperwork on the desk.

“Sign the papers, Marcus. Santo is getting impatient.”

Marcus did not reach for the gold pen.

“I cannot sign over the power of attorney without Alexander’s direct consent, Luca.”

“You can, and you will,” Luca said, stepping closer to the desk.

“Otherwise, Santo takes a walk down the hall to Sofia’s room.”

“Sofia has nothing to do with this,” Marcus said.

“She is family,” Luca said. “But family can be fragile. Look at Alexander.”

My hand slipped into my pocket, my fingers brushing against the folded paper.

It was Mrs. Conti’s signed confession.

The housekeeper had written down everything before she fled into the night.

She had detailed how Luca supplied her with the tasteless powder.

She had listed the exact dates she slipped it into Alexander’s chamomile tea.

I looked at Marcus again, trying to convey the message with my eyes.