**Elena’s POV**

I paced the length of my hotel room, my footsteps wearing a restless path into the carpet.

My chest felt tight, as if every breath stopped halfway. Too many thoughts, too many warnings I was choosing to ignore. Lucia’s voice kept replaying in my head—that low, honeyed hiss over the phone. She had documents. She had proof. Papers stolen from Stefano’s safe.

Could I trust her?

I knew the answer. I couldn’t.

I knew she hated me for taking the place she thought was hers, ...