The words didn’t disappear.
They stayed on the screen like a stain that refused to fade.
Giulia didn’t move.
Didn’t breathe.
Didn’t even blink.
Matteo’s grip on her wrist tightened. “Who sent that?”
She shook her head slowly. “I don’t know.”
“That’s not random.”
“I figured.”
Another message flashed.
This time—
An address.
No explanation.
No warning.
Just coordinates.
Matteo reached for the phone, but Giulia pulled it back.
“I need to see it.”
“You don’t need to go.”
“I wasn’t asking.”
Their eyes locked.
Tension surged.
“You don’t know what this is,” he said.
“And you do?”
“No.”
“Exactly.”
A pause.
Then—
“I’m going,” she said.
Matteo stepped closer. “Not alone.”
“That’s not your decision.”
“It is if it puts you at risk.”
She let out a breath. “Everything puts
