Page 85 of Lorenzo

This is what the people behind the plan chose to mess with.

A family that includes more than business and men who know how to answer violence with violence.

Children. Parents. Brothers. Sons.

Matteo looks at Tomasso again.

“I still cannot understand it.”

Tomasso knows what he means without asking.

“Neither can I.”

Across the table, they look almost identical.

But they are not interchangeable.

No one who knows them would ever believe they are.

Rachel relied on the fact that no one knew her at all.

I look toward Alessio.

“Tomorrow, you and the others meet with Donna and disclose every date you went out over the past two months. Every club, restaurant, bar, event, and person you remember approaching.”

Tomasso groans. “Two months?”

“Yes.”

“That will take hours.”

“You have hours.”

Matteo points his fork at him. “Most of it will be your fault.”

“My fault?”

“You are always the one who wants to go out.”

“That is absolutely untrue.”

“It is usually you,” Dante says.

Tomasso looks betrayed. “You too?”

Diego reaches for more chicken. “I would enjoy this more if I did not have to endure it as well.”

“You do,” Mario says.

Diego sighs and serves himself anyway.

Dinner slowly resumes.

Plates are passed again. Victoria insists Matteo take more chicken. Julia tells Dante to quit his complaining and eat. Ricardo keeps Cecilia against his chest while managing his fork with one hand. Mario listens more than he speaks, watching all of us as the conversation moves from speculation back toward action.

Alessio remains quieter than usual.

But he eats.