The old foundry sat on the edge of the industrial district like a rotting, hollowed-out carcass of steel and soot. It was a cathedral of shadows, a place where the city’s progress had gone to die decades ago. As the SUV screeched to a halt, the sound of the tires grinding against the salt-crusted gravel felt like a physical scream echoing in the pit of my stomach.
Luciano didn't wait for me. He stepped out before the vehicle had even fully stopped, his long black overcoat billowing behind him like the wings of a predatory bird of prey. I followed him, my legs feeling like they were made of cooling lead. Every step was an effort, my knees trembling so violently that the world seemed to tilt with every breath I took. I had to lean my shoulder against the ice-cold metal of the car door for a
