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I looked over at Rile, who held the heart-shaped stone in the palm of his hand. Interesting that the countess trusted Rile enough to think the stone was in a safe place as long as he had it.
Pia took it, walked over, and reached for my hand. She turned it over and set the stone in my palm.
“This is worth an ungodly sum of money, sweetheart.”
“Without love, it isn’t worth anything.”
I smiled and stuck it back in my pocket.
Rile had breakfast with us and then announced he was leaving that afternoon to return to Spain. “Should you need me here in Tuscany, please do not hesitate. Particularly if you require a best man at your wedding,” he said with a wink.
I walked him to the door. “Thanks for everything, mate.”
He held up one hand in a wave and walked to the SUV. Before he got in, he studied me.
“What?”
He shook his head, got in, and drove away.
“Such a wanker,” I mumbled as I walked back inside.
“I’m worried about Nonna Bella,” I heard Pia say as I entered the kitchen.
“I am too,” said the countess.
Before I had a chance to sit down, I heard another knock at the door. This time it was Matteo and Lucia.
“We just stopped by to tell you we’re on our way to Casavetti,” said Lucia when I invited them in.
“Pia and her mother are in the kitchen.”
Matteo hung back when Lucia went in, so I did too.
“AISE is asking for the whereabouts of the diamond.”
“Why is that?”
“Something about it being the property of the Italian government.”
“I see.” I scratched my chin. “If you were to encourage them to search harder, I’m certain they’ll find proof that is not the case.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. I didn’t want to be the one to tell Zia Maria that I had to confiscate it.”
“No, I wouldn’t have wanted to do that either,” I said with one hand in my pocket.
Matteo held out his hand, and I shook it. “I feel funny thanking you for your help. I told Rile the same thing.”
“No thanks necessary.”
“Lucia and I have been assigned to recover the missing antiquities.”
“Good luck to you.”
“Someday I’d like to learn more about the Invincibles.”
“And someday, you shall.”
After saying goodbye to Lucia and him at the door, I closed it behind them, hoping that was the last of our visitors for today.
