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Once we reach the shores of Ostia, we make our way to my waiting helicopter, which will take us back to Rome. As we strap ourselves in, the pilot turns around in his seat, eager for instructions.
"Where to?" he asks, his voice barely audible over the sound of the rotor blades.
I exchange a glance with Rafaele and Romola and notice a quick look of anger and fear pass through her face. It shouldn’t be there after we’ve all united, but I know exactly what she’s thinking.
Since Mars made an appearance, we were so torn from reality by all we uncovered that neither of us thought back to what Rafaele said earlier—that he lied about murdering Agostino and that Agostino lives.
Rafaele's jaw tightens imperceptibly, and for a moment, the only sound in the helicopter is the rhythmic thumping of the rotor blades. Then, he turns to the pilot. "Take us to the Bressan compound," Rafaele instructs the pilot. The man nods and begins to lift us off the ground, the cityscape of Rome growing smaller beneath us.
He turns back to us and gives us a small smile. “There are amends to be made.”
Romola gasps and almost jumps out of her seat in her quest to take Rafaele’s hands in her own. She looks into his eyes as tears fall down her own. “He…He lives?” she sobs. “You didn’t lie?”
“I didn’t lie,” Rafaele says simply, letting her cry in his hands. I think I hear him mutter, “I’m sorry,” and for me, that’s the most redemptive thing Rafaele Bressan has ever done.
By the time we touch down on Rafaele's compound's helipad, Romola is shaking with nervous energy. The helicopter barely gains balance when Romola pushes open the door and jumps out in a dangerous maneuver.
Rafaele and I exchange looks before leaning out of the opening.
“Romola,” I prepare to scold her for her risky move, but she’s looking up at us, waving her arms and screaming over and over again. “Where is he? Where is he?”
We step out a few moments later, and it’s clear that Romola has no desire to wait a second longer.
"Follow me," Rafaele instructs, leading us through his sprawling house. We step in and go down two flights of stairs to stop outside the library. “I had my men call ahead,” Rafaele explains, casting open the doors.
Romola takes a deep breath and wipes away the tears that come to her eyes again. Rafaele looks away, a fleeting semblance of guilt on his face before he turns his eyes stoic again.
I reach out and grab Romola’s hand. “Come on, sweetheart,” I whisper in her ear and give her cheek a light kiss. “This is a second chance at everything.”
She looks up at me and nods, her eyes red. Together, we take one step forward, and Rafaele disappears into the background.
Agostino stands frozen in the center of the room, his back to us as he stares out of the window. Romola's breath hitches at the sight of her father, her free hand flying to cover her mouth in a mix of shock and disbelief.
"Papà!" Romola gasps, tears glistening in her eyes. She breaks free from my grasp and sprints toward her father.
"Romola!" Agostino cries out as he turns, his arms open wide to embrace his daughter. They collide in a heartfelt hug, their emotions spilling over as they cling to each other.
"Father, I have so much to tell you," Romola whispers, pulling back to look into his eyes. "The Heart of Italy. The man we were meant to steal from. A cave... the diamond... everything."
I step back and join Rafaele, and we close the doors, leaving a daughter to recount her heart to the father she believed to be dead.
Rafaele and I sit in silence, both reflecting on all that’s passed between our families for generations. The history seems so violent and meaningless that we both know words won’t heal a thing. From this point onwards, it’s only actions that count.
Two hours later, Romola opened the door to the library, allowing us both to enter. “I told him everything,” she gushes, taking my hands in hers.
Agostino's face is a mixture of disbelief, relief, and wariness as he processes everything. He glances at me, then at Rafaele, and I can see him weighing the trustworthiness of this newfound alliance.
"Rafaele spoke the truth," I say softly to Romola, stepping forward to join them. "Your father is safe and sound, just as promised."
I can feel the tension in the air as Agostino watches Rafaele, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. Rafaele seems to sense this and clears his throat, drawing everyone's attention.
"Agostino, I understand that my past actions have caused you great pain, and I must apologize for them," he begins, his voice sincere. "I was a fool, blinded by ambition. Now that the truth is clearer, I wish only for unity and cooperation. Besides, killing you would have served no purpose.”
“That is true,” Agostino mutters. He turns to Romola and tells her, “Mr. Bressan here did provide me the medical care I needed.”
The sincerity in Rafaele’s voice is undeniable, but I still sense hesitation in Agostino. Rafaele, determined to reassure him, continues. "If you need further confirmation of my true intentions, you can seek the counsel of Serafina, whom you trust implicitly."
"Very well," Agostino says after a moment of contemplation, his expression still guarded. "We shall speak with her. Immediately.”
