THIRD PERSONThe phone rang twice. Then a third time. Maddalena sat perfectly still in her chair, legs crossed, the stem of her gin glass resting lightly between her fingers. The candlelight danced on the dark wood desk, throwing soft shadows across her face. She looked at the phone like it owed her something. Calm, steady. Confident.By the fourth ring, the call connected.“Sofia,” she said, voice low and smooth. “Tell me what I need to hear.”There was a pause, then a soft, amused breath on the other end. A small laugh followed. The kind that said she’d been waiting for this moment.“You always start like that,” Sofia said. “Straight to the point. No greetings. No warmth.”“I don’t call to chat,” Maddalena replied. “I call for results.”“Well,” Sofia said, her voice sharper now, more grounded, “you’ll be pleased. I’m packed. Everything’s done. My apartment’s empty. I left the keys this morning.”“No loose ends?” Maddalena asked, already knowing the answer.“None. I didn’t leave a tr
Last Updated : 2025-07-03 Read more