CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY ONE - Shadows in Tuscany

The sun-drenched Tuscan countryside rolled past the car windows as Luca navigated the winding roads. Rebecca gazed out, mesmerized by the golden hills dotted with cypress trees and the occasional vineyard stretching into the distance. "It's beautiful," she murmured, breaking the tense silence that had settled between them since leaving Florence. Luca's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "It is. But remember, we're not here for sightseeing." Rebecca turned to study his profile, the sharp line of his jaw clenched with worry. "I know. But can't we enjoy the journey a little?" A ghost of a smile played on Luca's lips. "Always the optimist, aren't you?" "Someone has to be," Rebecca replied, reaching out to squeeze his hand. As they drove deeper into the countryside, the roads narrowed, and the landscape grew wilder. Dense forests crowded the edges of the road, their branches forming a canopy overhead. "We're getting close," Luca said, his voice low. "The mansion is just ahead." R