*VINCENZO*
The boat rocked gently beneath us, its engine a hum against the backdrop of rippling waves. The sun glistened on the sea, throwing shards of light that danced like fireflies across the water. I glanced sideways at Adeline, her hair tousled by the wind, a smile warming her lips as we sped toward the small private island that lay nestled between the horizon and our worries—the perfect escape.
In that moment, I felt a flicker of hope, like the first light of dawn breaking through the darkness that had been steadily creeping into my life. This trip, which I had thought would be a break from the encounter and everything that happened on the island, took an unexpected turn. Thankfully, Adeline was still unaware of the events that had transpired in the last few hours.
The explosion
