Chapter 18

"We need to move," Luca's voice cut through the tense silence that had settled over the motel room. "It's not safe to stay in one place for too long."

Sofia nodded, her mind already racing with possibilities. "Where to?"

Giulia, who had been pacing the small room like a caged tiger, stopped abruptly. "I might have an idea," she said, a sly smile playing at her lips. "Remember that old safehouse Dad used to use? The one by the lake?"

Luca's eyebrows shot up. "The summer house? That place hasn't been used in years."

"Exactly," Giulia said triumphantly. "No one would think to look for us there."

Sofia watched the exchange between the siblings, fascinated by the way they seemed to communicate without words. It was a stark reminder of the bond they shared, a bond she had never experienced with her own family.

"It's risky," Luca mused, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "But it might be our best option right now."

Decision made, they moved quickly. Sofia found herself once again in