“They didn’t know. To them I was Nina Marzoli. Nina Gerardi.”

“That I doubt. Signor Gerardi didn’t even flinch when I told him you were a Jew, nor the others. That tells me they did know.”

“You can’t—”

“I certainly can. I’ve already furnished the brothers’ names to the authorities, and I promise we will make good use of them in Germany. Even that father of theirs looks strong enough. We might be able to wring out a few years of hard labor from him as well.”

“His sister will never be able to manage on her own.”

“So?” he spat. “What are her worries to me?”

It was a mistake to listen to his threats. Rosa was strong and tough and fierce. She would never let anything happen to the children. Father Bernardi would help, and the village would rally round, and there were so many cousins. Surely they would—

“Antonina? Are you still listening? Good, because I haven’t touched upon the best part. Do you want to hear what it is?” He edged ever closer, his mouth now grazing her ear, and it took the last of her strength not to flinch.

“It really was your fault,” he hissed. “I first came to Mezzo Ciel because I wanted to know what had become of my old friend. Nothing more. I was prideful—I’ll admit it—and I wanted him to see how I’d risen in the world. Not least because I’d always suspected he’d been the one to rat me out to that old fool in charge of the seminary. But can you guess what happened next? It’s really quite delicious. I saw you and I knew something wasn’t right. You were the reason I grew curious. You were the reason I returned. And so you are the one who led him to his death. Tell me you see it.”

She would not believe it. She would not.

“Nothing to say? What if I told you the promise I made to your beloved Niccolò as the noose was placed around his neck?”

No. No.

“I told him I would find you, and the mongrel you carried, and I would send both of you to the place where every Jew belongs. A place from which there is no escape and no end but death. A charnel house for those who have earned oblivion. My words were the last he heard.”

Traitorous tears flooded her eyes, spilling down her face, but she ignored them. With her hands still bound there was little to be done.

“Oh, come now. Where are your insults? Your demands? Your pleas for mercy?”