**Elena’s POV**

"What?" I screamed. The word felt ripped from my throat. I grabbed Elario’s arm as he drove. My fingers dug into his sleeve. "You have to stop him, Elario! Please, you can’t let Father do this! You have to call the men back!"

Elario didn't look at me. He kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. "You know how Father is, Elena. Once he decides someone is a threat, there's no changing his mind. He thinks Stefano is a loose end. He’s ...