Page 82 of Lorenzo

The table quiets.

“Finding the adoption records. Locating both women. Learning enough about Rachel to ensure they have the right target. Watching Alessio long enough to predict his behavior.”

Alessio’s fork remains untouched beside his plate.

“They knew I would leave.”

“They believed you would,” I say.

He looks at me.

“That difference matters,” I continue. “This plan depended on choices they could influence but not guarantee.”

Tomasso sits back. “They got lucky.”

“Maybe not,” I say.

Donna’s theory has stayed with me since she said it outside Genevieve’s apartment a few days ago.

We do not know that the night Genevieve died was the first attempt.

We know only that it worked.

Everyone's gaze shifts to me.

Mario says, “Explain.”

“How many times have the five of you gone out in the past month?”

Dante glances at Matteo.

“Several,” Edoardo answers.

“Right,” I say. “And how many times to the same club?”

“A few,” Tomasso says.

“More than anywhere else,” Matteo elaborates.

“At least four or five times,” Dante says.

“There was that night Tomasso complained about the music,” Alessio says.

“The music was terrible,” Tomasso insists.

“This is what you remember?” Matteo asks.

“It was.”

I lift a hand before the argument can take shape.

I turned to Alessio.

“And of those times, did any women approach you?”

He gives me a look. “It’s not exactly rare.”

Edoardo’s eyes roll.