A silver spoon clinked against the edge of the porcelain saucer as Lorenzo Valenti folded his hands over the small cafe table.
The proxy for the House of Savoy-Genoa wore a tailored charcoal topcoat, but the expensive wool did little to hide the rigid, uncomfortable line of his spine.
"Sterling-Hale changed their locks because they believe isolation is safety," Lorenzo said, his Italian accent softening the harsh consonants. "My family survived three centuries in Europe by recognizing when the wind changes. We prefer to invest in the storm."
Sliding a thin, manila folder across the scratched wooden surface, he waited.
Christian watched the folder stop near the center of the table. He took a slow sip of his black coffee. "A token of goodwill."
"A foundational truth," Lorenzo corrected.
