“I need to go,” Dario said, his jaw tight as he squeezed my hand. “Armando and Piero will stay here. I’m taking Dante and Giovanni.”

Stray.

The word made the small hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. It was the term Dario said his father used. Certainly, there wasn’t a connection. I wanted to ask, but years of experience told me that some questions were better asked in private. “Stay safe.”

Dario gave us all a curt nod. ...