Chapter 50

He didn't catch them was Dafne's first thought.

That was a huge relief. She wondered what had made Basta return empty-handed, knowing the consequences. Had they simply been impossible to trail or had his conscience prevailed? Whatever the reason Basta looked completely exhausted, as if he hadn't slept a wink the whole time he'd been gone. He looked despondent too. But how else could he look knowing he'd blown his chance to redeem himself in Capricorn's eyes. He knew what was coming. Dafne did too. They locked eyes and he gave her a sad smile. She took a step toward him. There was nothing stopping her from going to him. Mortola had released her arm. Nothing was holding her back.

Nothing except herself and that one step was all she took. Her mind was suddenly flooded with every piece of horrible information she had unwillingly amassed about Basta in his absence. Dustfinger's scars. The miller's house on fire. She stood on the spot, wrestling with the dilemma of whether to go forward, to embrace this man whose crimes she now knew in gruesome detail. The man in question looked confused by her sudden halt, confused and slightly hurt. It was discomforting being responsible for such a look but it wasn't enough to compel her onwards over to him.

His master wasn't confused. He knew better. He was on in on the secret. He was smiling surreptitiously at her conflict. Basta might have failed him but Capricorn could at least take satisfaction from his own achievement. He had rattled her faith to the point she was wary of even approaching the man she had clung to desperately the last time they had been together.

"What's wrong Dafne?" he said, "Aren't you happy to see your beloved Basta? It's been three whole days."

He was taunting her. That was how little time it had taken him to whittle her self-belief into doubt. Three days.

"Or are you just disappointed that he's failed to make good on his opportunity to keep you? As you can see," Capricorn indicated the empty space of the room with a sweep of his arm, "he hasn't brought me the boy and girl like he was supposed to."

Basta grimaced and hung his head, staring dejectedly at the floor. Dafne felt a pain in her heart seeing him like that. He was devastated about losing her. Despite everything swirling around her head, trying to persuade her otherwise, she didn't want to lose him either.

"No," she said, "No, he hasn't."

He hadn't found them. That was what mattered right now. He hadn't done the unforgiveable and brought them back to face certain death. All the horrors Capricorn had relished in describing to her, those deeds had been committed in the past. Back when Basta had been a character in a book and his actions had been controlled by the author's twisted imagination. That didn't mean he hadn't done similar awful things in this world but he had also shown himself capable of kindness. She had to remember that. She had to remember why she was with him.

"But I'm not disappointed," she told Capricorn, "I know he would have done his best."

Dafne crossed the floor and cupped her hand to the side of Basta's face. He glanced up at her, looking relieved that she had eventually come. But really this was small comfort given the situation they were in. Such contact was bittersweet in the expectation that the man watching was about to separate them.

"How forgiving of you," Capricorn drawled, his choice of word meaningful. There was no trace of a smile now he had realised his self-congratulations had been premature, "Unfortunately for you Basta, I don't feel the same way."

Basta tensed.

"Please let me explain," he said.

"By all means," Capricorn invited him scornfully, "I'd like to know why you failed. But don't think it's going to make any difference. No brats means no maid. Those were the terms."

Basta sighed, a bodily slump of a sigh. He began to stroke Dafne's face miserably, preferring to do that than to begin his tale. What was the point of starting? At the end Dafne was just going to be taken from him.

"Hurry up," Mortola snapped nastily, "Stop moping and get on with it."

Capricorn turned to look at her in mild surprise,

"Are you still here?" he said as if he hadn't expected her to stick around, "Go fetch Pietro for me. Tell him I have an assignment for him."

Mortola's brow furrowed. Dafne knew she didn't want to leave. She wanted to watch the couple's suffering. But Mortola would never defy an order from Capricorn. She bowed and swept off.

"What assignment?" Basta wanted to know.

Capricorn waved away his curiosity,

"You'll find out," he said, "Now tell me what happened."

His voice was hard and impatient, a warning that Basta had better stop stalling. Basta obeyed, launching into his story.

"Well by the time I left your house, it was clear that they weren't in the village anymore..."

"How did you deduce that?" Capricorn interrupted with a slight sneer.

"Carlo's car was missing," Basta explained, "The boy had been washing it earlier that day so he had the keys. That's how they escaped. They drove instead of going by foot. It was a smart move. It allowed them to get a good head start and avoid the dangers of the forest."

"Is that admiration in your voice Basta?" Capricorn said menacingly, "Are you proud of your apprentice's ingenuity?"

Basta shook his head vehemently,

"No sir, I was just stating how they got the advantage over us..."

"Advantage," Capricorn snapped, his voice thick with displeasure, "My men have been outwitted by two children. Do you realise how humiliating this is me? Why didn't Carlo report his car missing?"

"He was over in the next village with Enzo at the time."

"Doing what?" Capricorn demanded.

Basta shrugged though he probably did know. He wasn't going to let slip the plan to photocopy the message Capricorn had tasked them to write. Capricorn was angry enough already.

"The men spend far too much time in the next village," Capricorn went on, "Don't they have jobs to do? You delegate the work Basta, you tell me."

Basta shrugged a little more helplessly,

"There hasn't been much to do lately. We've taken all the tribute for this month. None of the farmers have been making trouble since we did away with Laterza."

Dafne thought this might have pleased Capricorn. But he wasn't satisfied with this good news.

"If there's nothing else to do, why aren't the men out looking for Silvertongue? Am I expected to put up with Darius for the rest of my days?"

"Sir, there's two parties out searching for Silvertongue as we speak," Basta said.

"Two parties?" Capricorn said in a grating voice, "How many men is that?"

Basta shifted uncomfortably.

"Ten," he answered rather hesitantly, "That's just from here. I don't know how many up north are out looking..."

"Ten?" Capricorn shouted, ignoring the rest, "Ten men to search the continent while the rest of the men slack off in the next village. Do you think that's good enough Basta? Do you think that's utilising our resources appropriately?"

"No Sir."

"From now on I want every available man out looking for Silvertongue," Capricorn ordered, "I can't just rely on Dustfinger to sniff him out."

"Dustfinger?" Basta said. His surprise matched Dafne's. She knew Silvertongue was a reader Capricorn was determined to get hold of. But Dustfinger wasn't really affiliated with Capricorn so why would he be tracking this man down?

"Yes Dustfinger," Capricorn said, "You know how obsessed he is with finding Silvertongue and getting him to read him back into the book. He seems to be more motivated than you lot so why shouldn't I use him to get what I want."

Read him back into the book? Was that possible? Dafne supposed it might be if characters could be read out. She remembered Dustfinger saying how he yearned for his world. He seemed to miss it a great deal more than Basta.

"Sir, about Dustfinger," Basta was saying, "There's something you need to know."

"Well spit it out," Capricorn said impatiently.

"He helped Silvio and the girl escape."

Panic gripped Dafne. How had Basta found out the truth?

"How do you know this?" Capricorn said, looking sceptical.

"Well for starters, he went missing the same night they did," Basta said.

"That's no reason to think he's involved," Capricorn said, "I was expecting him to leave sooner or later."

"But on the same night? Surely that's no coincidence."

"Why not?" Capricorn said, "What reason would Dustfinger have to help them? He's a coward and he didn't know either of them."

"I don't why he did it," Basta said, "But he did it. I know he did."

Dafne was beginning to feel relieved. Basta's case seemed more based on theory than actual evidence.

"I hope you didn't use this as the basis for your search," Capricorn remarked, took one look at Basta's uneasy face and groaned frustratedly, "You did didn't you."

"Well I was completely certain he had helped them," Basta tried to defend himself.

"Certainty based on nothing," Capricorn said angrily, "Nothing except your hatred of the man. You allowed yourself to get side-tracked looking for an excuse to kill him."

"That's not true," Basta protested, "I tracked Carlo's car up the coast. A good thing he had those ridiculous flames painted on it. People remembered seeing it. They also remembered the man driving it too because his scars were just as memorable as the car."

"That only proves that Dustfinger was the one who stole Carlo's car," Capricorn said.

"But the boy had the keys."

"Do you think a vagabond like Dustfinger doesn't know how to hotwire a car?"

Basta didn't answer.

"But the locals said there was a boy and girl with him," he said instead.

Capricorn was silent for a moment. This was the most persuasive evidence Basta had provided so far.

"The boy matched Silvio's description too," Basta added eagerly, encouraged by Capricorn's silence.

Capricorn shrugged,

"It's still hearsay," he said, choosing to stick with his scepticism, "Children flock around Dustfinger when he performs," he glanced at Dafne, "much like the Pied Piper."

Basta's face fell disappointedly. He had expected Capricorn to start believing him.

"How far did you track Carlo's car with people matching their descriptions?" Capricorn asked, showing he was at least willing to listen to what else Basta had to say.

"Well I tracked the car all the way to the Swiss border," Basta replied, reluctantly adding, "But by that time the people I talked to only mentioned seeing Dustfinger not the other two."

Capricorn's expression hardened,

"So it turned out they weren't with him."

"No, they were with him," Basta insisted, "It's just that they must have split up. Dustfinger went north but the other two didn't."

"So why didn't you stop following Dustfinger?" Capricorn asked in a soft displeased voice.

"Because I was still going on the assumption they were with him," Basta admitted uneasily, "By the time I realised for certain they weren't with him, their tracks were cold. I retraced my steps but no one remembered seeing them. The two aren't as distinctive as Dustfinger."

"So you admitted defeat and came back to face the music?" Capricorn finished his tale for him.

Basta didn't answer, just hung his head.

Capricorn sighed, burying his face in his hands as if he couldn't bear to look Basta any longer. Dafne could hear him muttering to himself but she couldn't make out what he was saying. She didn't care to know. Basta did though. He was watching Capricorn miserably. Dafne went to kiss him, wanting to distract him with something pleasant. She should have taken the opportunity a bit earlier because Capricorn chose that moment to look up,

"Don't kiss the fool," he shouted at her, making both of them jump, "I won't have his ineptitude rewarded in my presence. Come here!"

Basta and Dafne glanced at each other, unsure who he was directing the order to.

"Dafne, come here," Capricorn clarified with annoyance, beckoning her over as if she were a small dog.

Dafne went to obey, knowing it was best to do so given his vindictive state. But Basta grabbed her hand, stopping her.

"Please," he pleaded, believing this was the moment Capricorn had chosen to take back what he had given, "Let us have a chance to say goodbye at least. We'll go outside if you want..."

"A chance to say goodbye?" Capricorn repeated harshly, a trace of disbelief in his voice as if he couldn't believe Basta would have the audacity to make such a request, "You dare ask me this after failing yet again? What possible reason do you think you're entitled? Please tell me. I'm dying to know. But be warned. If I don't think it's a good enough reason, your punishment is going to worse than simply having the girl taken off you. I'll shut you away in one of the cages and leave you to rot. I'll take away your keys too and give them to Cockerell."

Basta looked horrified. Cockerell supplanting him was one of his worst nightmares. He stared down at his grip on Dafne's hand in the midst of conflict. The threat of those extra punishments had shaken his resolve. As much as it pained her, Dafne knew it was best he just forfeit her. What good would it do them for Basta to be imprisoned and his keys, the invaluable keys which could unlock doors in Capricorn's house, taken from him? Zero good that was the answer so she made the decision for him.

"Basta," she whispered. His head jerked up to look at her piteously. She shook her head sadly, "It's not worth it."

She slid her hand out of his. He didn't put up any resistance. He understood as well as she did though he had lacked her initiative.

"Practical girl," Capricorn drawled as Dafne walked reluctantly over to him, "You can see who has the brains of your relationship. A shame. What good is it for a maid to have intelligence? It just makes her more rebellious. Not that I expect any trouble from you my dear. You don't want Basta suffering for it."

Capricorn chuckled at her look of worry.

"Yes you heard me correctly. If you stray out of line like you've done in the past, I'm not going to punish you, I'm going to punish Basta instead," he shifted his gaze on Basta who was standing by himself anxiously, "That goes for you too. It's going to work both ways. If you continue to fail me, she'll pay the price."

Basta glanced over at Dafne with distress,

"I'd rather you punish me. I don't want her hurt on my account."

"Then don't fail me," Capricorn replied, unmoved by his plea, "I believe the threat of her suffering is going to be very effective motivation for you. Don't look so glum," he seemed in better spirits now he had succeeded in unsettling them, "If you don't fail and you prove yourself competent, you can have her back."

Basta considered this a moment.

"Tell me what to do and I'll do it," he said, his unease channelled into eager obedience.

Dafne was worried, more than worried, fearful. She was fearful of the kind of tasks Capricorn would assign Basta. Fearful of the fact he would leap to do them without question. Just for her.

Capricorn leaned back in his armchair looking satisfied. Why wouldn't he be satisfied? The two of them were like pieces on a chessboard. He had them exactly where he wanted them.

"I'll tell you when Pietro arrives," he said.

So they waited for Capricorn's other right hand from the north. Mercifully it wasn't long before he arrived.

"Ah Pietro, finally someone who isn't completely incompetent," Capricorn hailed the man as he came into the room, "We've been waiting for you."

Pietro inclined his head respectfully,

"Sorry to keep you waiting," he said, "I had to come from Basta's house."

"My house? What were you doing at my house?" Basta demanded.

Pietro smiled,

"I've been staying there. Nico too. I hope you don't mind. Welcome back by the way."

Basta was characteristically furious.

"Of course I mind! What gives you the right to just park yourself in someone's house without their permission?"

Pietro shrugged,

"Well you took off before I could ask you. I thought it would be fine because we're friends."

"Who says we're friends?" Basta spat.

"I do," Pietro replied cheerfully, "Besides where else were we going to stay? I couldn't impose on Capricorn and all the other houses are pretty much safety hazards," he sighed appreciatively, "Your house is so clean too. Like staying in a hotel."

"It better be as clean as the way I left it," Basta growled threateningly, "Otherwise..."

"Oh and I took care of your cat while you were gone," Pietro cut in, "No need to thank me."

Basta's anger lost momentum in his confusion.

"Cat? What cat?"

"Your cat. The ginger one. It showed up on your doorstep each night and wailed until I let it in."

"I didn't take you for a cat person Basta," Capricorn remarked with a sneer.

"I'm not," Basta said, "It's just a stupid stray who's made itself at home in my house," he glared meaningfully at Pietro, "just like some other unwanted guests. Unwanted guests who had better find somewhere else to stay from now on."

"Come now why all the fuss," Pietro said reasonably, "It'll only be for one more night. I'll let you have the bed back even though I'm the guest."

Basta stared at him in horror,

"You slept in my bed!" he shouted.

"Enough!" Capricorn said, "Basta, I believe you have bigger problems on your plate than Pietro at the moment."

Basta's body slumped as if feeling the weight of reality pressing down on him again. Capricorn was right. Compared to everything else, Pietro was just an infuriating distraction.

"I know," he mumbled sadly.

"As you might have guessed already Pietro, Basta has failed to bring back our two escapees," said Capricorn, turning to the other man.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Pietro replied, though Dafne wasn't sure how sincere he was. He didn't even look at Basta as he said it. His gaze shifted to her instead and his expression was more thoughtful than sympathetic. Dafne stared back boldly, wondering what was going on in his head.

"Not as sorry as Basta I'm sure," Capricorn drawled, "But he's determined to make it up to me, aren't you Basta."

Basta glanced at Dafne achingly and bobbed his head,

"Yes very much. Just tell me what you need me to do."

"See Pietro, he's very eager," Capricorn said, "Very eager to get his little maid back."

"I can understand that," Pietro said, his eyes still hadn't left Dafne. It was beginning to unnerve her. She was considering saying something but then Pietro finally turned to Capricorn, "May I ask why you've sent for me. I'm sympathetic to Basta's plight but it really hasn't got anything to do with me."

"No it hasn't. But I thought you'd like the opportunity to join Basta on his next assignment," Capricorn replied, "I recall you telling me that you were interested in how our operations are run down here."

Basta scowled. Pietro smiled.

"Oh yes I did say that," he said with breezy enthusiasm, "So what's the assignment?"

"Sir," Basta piped up before Capricorn could answer, "Whatever the assignment is, I'm fully capable of handling it myself," he glared at Pietro, "I don't need him tagging along."

"Basta, your latest string of failures would suggest that you need all the help you can get," Capricorn said, inspecting his nails as the other man grimaced, "I've never had any complaints with how Pietro runs things up north. If I were you, I would use this opportunity to learn why this is."

Dafne watched Basta ball his hands into fists. He was angry but she also knew he was probably feeling quite humiliated. She remembered Basta arrogantly telling Pietro that he could take pointers from him. Now here was Capricorn stating the opposite. Dafne glanced at Pietro. He was smiling somewhat bemusedly. She wondered if he was recalling the same past conversation.

"You flatter me," he said to Capricorn, "But I'm sure I have nothing to teach Basta. From what I hear, his methods are quite effective," he looked at Basta with a sympathy that seemed mocking, "It's just that you've had a run of bad luck lately haven't you amico mio. Maybe that rabbit foot of yours has an expiry date."

Basta bristled,

"Talismans don't have expiry dates you fool," he hissed, "And cut the friendly act. I know how much you're enjoying this."

"Enjoying what?" Pietro said innocently.

"Me failing," Basta growled, "I bet this the happiest day of your life."

Pietro rolled his eyes,

"Are you really so arrogant that you believe my happiness is linked to whether or not you screw up," he shook his head, "You need to grow up pumpkin. This jealousy you have of me is really immature."

"Don't call me pumpkin!" Basta snarled, "You look more like a pumpkin than I do, fatty. And I am not jealous of you. What's there to be jealous of?"

"Well I'm not a screw up for one thing," Pietro purred rather triumphantly.

"I'll show you what a screw up can do to your face," Basta snarled, drawing out his knife so quickly Dafne barely had time to blink as it appeared.

She had seen other men like Cockerell cower at the sight of Basta's knife. But not Pietro, he was completely calm, almost indifferent. He casually opened his coat to reveal the gun hanging on the inside.

"Let's see who's faster," he said, "You or my lupara."

Dafne's eyes widened in alarm. Surely he wasn't going to shoot Basta. But then again, Basta had pulled his knife out first. She was shocked that their conversation had escalated to the point where weapons had been drawn. She shouldn't have been surprised though.

It's just the men we are. This is what Pietro had said to her. They were men of violence.

She turned to Capricorn, expecting him to intervene. But he was watching their face-off with interest instead of disapproval. This scared her. Was he just going to let them duel in his bedroom? Dafne was fearfully certain that Pietro would come out the victor if they did. What chance did Basta have against a gun? Yet he was sneering at Pietro's weapon as if it were a harmless toy.

You idiot, Dafne thought, is this just bravado or do you really think you can dodge bullets?

She didn't want to take the chance that it was the latter.

"Basta please," she called out to him, "Stop this. Put your knife away."

Basta turned to her almost looking surprised as if he'd forgotten her presence.

"But he..." he protested, trailing off as Dafne shook her head vehemently.

"I'd listen to her," Capricorn spoke up finally, a thin smile on his face, "I don't want you splattered all over my room. If that happens, I'm going to make Dafne clean it up."

"Basta please," Dafne pleaded, disturbed by the imagery Capricorn's words conjured in her head.

Basta sighed, lowering his knife. As he did, Pietro, who had remained confidently calm throughout the stand-off, broke into a smile,

"Truce?" he said cheerfully.

Basta glared at him,

"For now," he growled, sheathing his knife.

Dafne breathed a sigh of relief.

Capricorn clapped his hands together briskly,

"Now that you're both done with your posturing, we can get on with the matter of your assignment. I trust you have no more objections Basta?"

Basta scowled but remained silent.

"Good," Capricorn went on, "As much as it pains me to know that those two brats have evaded their punishment, I'm not going to waste resources hunting them down."

This filled Dafne with relief though she kept her face blank. She glanced at Basta to see his reaction. He only looked surprised. Surprised that Capricorn would simply abandon his ambition for revenge so quickly.

"I would rather the men track down someone of use," Capricorn said, supplying his reason, "Silvertongue is of more interest to me than two brats. I was only going to have put them to death anyway."

Thank God for Silvertongue, Dafne thought, though she hoped he avoided capture too, whoever he was.

"Have you spoken to anyone since returning Basta?" Capricorn asked.

Basta shook his head,

"No I came straight here."

"Good," Capricorn said, "Then the only ones aware of your failure are myself, Mortola, Pietro and Dafne. I think it's best that it remains this way. As far as anyone else is concerned, you killed the brats and buried them where they fell. Understood?"

Basta bobbed his head almost gratefully,

"Yes sir."

Capricorn turned to Pietro,

"I trust you don't have an issue with this white lie?"

"No sir," Pietro replied, "As far as I can see, a white lie like that is more beneficial than the truth. You don't want others thinking they can get away with the same thing."

"Exactly," Capricorn said, "Which leads us to the nature of your assignment. With the two brats gone, we'll be needing replacements."

Replacements? Dafne's relief was supplanted by unease.

"So you want us to go find you another maid and boy to serve you?" Pietro said, showing no sign of repugnance. He actually seemed enthusiastic, "Sounds interesting. Up north, it's usually Danilo, Federico and Stefano who do the recruiting. They're formerly street kids so they know where to find them. As for maids, we advertise through the newspaper."

"Advertise?" Capricorn said, "Why bother doing that?"

Yes why hire them legitimately when you can kidnap them, Dafne thought sarcastically.

Pietro smiled,

"Because if you advertise you only get the ones who are qualified and keen for a job."

"How keen are they when they find out who they're working for?" Dafne couldn't resist asking.

"Naturally there's some initial shock but they always adapt. I can very persuasive in that respect," Pietro said cryptically.

"By persuasive, he means he threatens them," Basta translated, taking satisfaction from the look of disgust Dafne shot at Pietro.

Pietro shrugged unapologetically,

"A necessary evil. After that they adjust and they're perfectly happy."

"Where's your proof of that?" Dafne said distrustfully.

"Well there hasn't been a single escape attempt," Pietro replied, "How's that?"

"That's not proof of anything," Dafne said, "They're probably too frightened to try anything, let alone speak up about how they really feel..."

"I suggest you take a leaf out of their book Dafne," Capricorn cut in brusquely, "I'm not at all interested in your opinion so shut up."

Dafne grudgingly fell silent. She remembered his threat to punish Basta if she displeased him.

"See, was that so hard? See if you can stay like that," Capricorn said with a patronising sneer. He turned to Basta, "She's a shrewish little thing. Are you sure you want her back?"

"Yes," Basta said without hesitation, his certainty making Dafne smile.

Capricorn shrugged,

"So be it. Let's hope the replacement I have in my mind for my new maid is much more demure."

"You have someone in mind?" Basta said surprised.

"Yes. I have someone in mind to replace the boy too."

"Who?"

"Do you remember Giulio's children? The boy and girl he sent to live with his relatives."

Basta's eyes widened,

"You want them?" he said.

"That's right," Capricorn replied, "They're the right ages and we know where they live. You see I couldn't have made this simpler for you."

But Basta looked hesitant,

"Are you sure this is a good idea? Giulio..."

"Giulio what?" Capricorn interrupted, looking irritated.

"Well he isn't going to be happy having his kids brought here," Basta said, "That's why he chose to send them away instead of having them live here."

Capricorn didn't look concerned. In fact his expression was darkly expectant,

"I'll just explain to him that if he doesn't want his children working for me, I'll have them killed along with his wife. That should persuade him not to make any trouble. After all, the same threat convinced him to work for me in the first place."

Basta nodded,

"Alright," he glanced at Pietro, "We'll go fetch them then."

"No!" the words came flying from Dafne's mouth, "No you can't do that!"

She couldn't stay silent even though Giulio and Isolda hated her. She knew their past and it horrified her that Capricorn was going to make them suffer even more. Hadn't they been through enough?

Capricorn eyed her with weary scorn,

"More opinions? Didn't I make myself clear before?"

"But you can't make him do this," Dafne said, "Giulio's family don't deserve to have this done to them."

"Don't deserve? Why should I care about what they deserve?" Capricorn said, "I only care that two empty positions are filled. Why are you making such a fuss anyway? Is Giulio a friend of yours?"

"Well... no," Dafne answered honestly, "But..."

"Then why should you care?" Capricorn cut her off, "You should want Basta to bring me Giulio's children. The sooner he does, the closer he'll be to getting you back. Don't you want that?"

Dafne didn't answer. She did want that but the toll on her conscience seemed too high. After Giulio's children, what next? What other terrible things would Capricorn get Basta to do to prove himself? How could she live with herself knowing she was the motivation behind them?

"Dafne," she heard Basta call her name. She turned to see his anxious face. Why haven't you said yes yet, his expression seemed to say. But she couldn't say it, even to comfort him. She averted her eyes sadly to the floor.

"I'm not sure if that's a yes or a no," Capricorn said, "But either way Basta you best be heading off. I want those two children brought to me before dark. If you don't, Dafne is going to have more to worry about than her conscience. You don't want me feeding her to Darius' monster tonight do you?"

"No sir," Dafne could the distress in Basta's voice. She glanced up to see he was already making his way to the door with Pietro following.

He looked back over his shoulder and locked eyes with her. There was worry swarming all over his face. She wasn't sure if it was worry because Capricorn had threatened her life, or worry because she hadn't answered Capricorn's question, probably both. But he didn't have time to linger. He had a task to do and the clock was ticking. He tore his gaze away from her, the worry in his face turning into something harder, an expression of grim determination.

To be continued...

Lupara - sawn-off shotgun used by Mafiosi like Pie

Amico mio - my friend