(Luca)
The mistake they made wasn’t sending the message.
It was assuming they could pause afterward.
Men like me didn’t react on emotion—but we never waited on confirmation either. Waiting gave others room to maneuver. And maneuvering was how accidents happened.
By dawn, I had already narrowed the field.
Observers left patterns. They always did. Too many questions asked through intermediaries. Too much interest in security protocols disguised as casual curiosity. A sudden patience from people who usually rushed advantage.
Patience was a tell.
Vincenzo arrived just after sunrise, tablet in hand, expression neutral.
“We have a pressure point,” he said. “Not the sender. The sponsor.”
I gestured for him to continue.
“Shipping permits,” he said. “Delays cleared faster than usual. Some
