The voices grew louder, accompanied by the crunch of boots on gravel. Sofia was awake in an instant, her knife gleaming in the firelight. “They’ve found us,” she hissed. “We need to go.”

Luca grabbed Clara’s hand, pulling her toward a hidden trapdoor. They descended into a damp cellar, the air thick with the scent of earth. Sofia led the way, her movements swift and silent. They emerged into a moonlit field, the farmhouse now a silhouette against the sky.

As they ran, Clara’s mind raced. Who were these men? And what did they want with Luca? Her lungs burned, but she kept pace, her hand tight in Luca’s.

They reached a dense forest, where Sofia signaled for them to hide. Crouched behind a fallen log, Clara heard the men’s voices fade into the distance. But the danger wasn’t over. Sofia whispered that they needed to reach Florence, where an ally could help them.

Exhausted, they found refuge in a cave as dawn broke. Clara’s dress was torn, her hands scratched, but she felt alive in a way she hadn’t in years. Luca pulled her close, his arms steady around her. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I never wanted this for you.”

She looked into his eyes, seeing the boy she’d loved and the man he’d become. “I’d rather be here, with you, than anywhere else,” she said.

But Sofia’s voice cut through the moment. “We can’t stay long,” she said. “They’ll be back.”

Clara’s gaze lingered on Luca. She was in too deep to turn back now, but the truth was still out of reach. What was Luca hiding? And would they survive long enough for her to find out?

Florence was a city of secrets, its narrow streets alive with whispers. They arrived at dusk, cloaked in borrowed coats to avoid attention. Sofia led them to a small bookshop, its windows dark. Inside, an older man named Enrico greeted them, his eyes kind but sharp.

Enrico was a former resistance fighter, now a keeper of secrets. He listened as Luca explained his mission: to find a ledger that could prove his betrayal was coerced, clearing his name. “The ledger is in a villa outside the city,” Enrico said. “But it’s heavily guarded.”

Clara’s heart sank. This was more dangerous than she’d imagined. But Luca’s determination was unshakable. “I have to do this,” he told her. “For us.”

That night, they stayed in Enrico’s attic, the city’s lights twinkling below. Clara couldn’t sleep, her mind racing. She found Luca by the window, staring at the stars. “What happens if we get the ledger?” she asked.

He turned to her, his expression soft. “We start over. You and me, Clara. No more running.”

She wanted to believe him, but Sofia’s presence lingered in her mind. There was a bond between Luca and Sofia, one Clara couldn’t fully understand. Was it just friendship, or something more?

As they prepared to leave for the villa, Enrico handed Luca a small pistol. “Be careful,” he said. “The men guarding that ledger will kill to keep it hidden.”

Clara’s stomach twisted. They were walking into a trap, and she had no choice but to follow.

Chapter 4: The Escape

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