Tightening the Net

The study was quiet in the early afternoon, the heavy curtains drawn halfway to keep the light low.

Massimo sat behind his desk, a glass of untouched water near his hand. He looked better than he had that morning, less pale but the tension in his shoulders hadn’t eased.

Arturo stood across from him, watching him with that familiar sharp calm he always had.

“You look like hell,” Arturo said flatly.