“Blood,” Bastian says. He’s got the light from his phone’s flashlight on a spot on the mattress. I go to him and see it, that deep almost black of old blood. I shine the light over the walls and see what looks like spray paint there, but it’s blood, too. “Why wouldn’t he burn this place to the ground?”

I shake my head. “No fucking clue. Let’s go. There’s nothing more down here.”

When we get back out into the light of the afternoon sun, we both stop to take a deep breath in. But that stench of basement clings to my nostrils.

“His properties are locked up tight. From the fencing to whatever is within,” I say.

“Only one person would have access,” Bastian adds as he walks into the overgrown grass and looks around. I know what he’s looking for. A grave.

We’re talking about the same person. The only person who would have cause to hurt Vittoria like that. To break her like only something like this would.

“I need a drink,” I say.

“Me too.”

18

VITTORIA

They aren’t going to let me go. I know this. And as confused as my own feelings are, I have to think of Emma.

Bruno seems busy with something and leaves me alone for the most part, so the flight to Ravello is quiet. Once we’re in Naples, I’m ushered into a waiting SUV and driven straight to the Ravello house while Bruno returns to his home in the city.

Once I’m settled in the SUV, I take the envelope Mr. Brady gave me out of my purse and open it. I actually opened it on the flight, but when I saw what was inside, I discreetly tucked it back into my purse before Bruno or the soldiers could see. Now the two are riding in the front, and I’m alone in the back seat.

I take out the stack of papers. A lot of it is just copies of what I signed and what it means. I set most of those aside. I’ll look those over later. One gives me details of the bank account where Amadeo will deposit my monthly allowance. I find a debit card, a credit card, and two wads of cash. The brand-new hundred-dollar bills are secured with a rubber band in an envelope inside the larger envelope. At a quick glance, there’s maybe ten thousand dollars in here. But best of all, there’s a cell phone. I leave it switched off and drop the whole lot into my purse. This gives me options I didn’t have before.