CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX – ESCAPE ROUTE

Late at night, when the house was quiet, Joan would often find herself planning escape routes, just in case. She memorized bus schedules, mapped out back roads, and even started stashing away small amounts of cash in various hiding spots around her room. She hated the idea of leaving Maria and Luca, but she knew that if Fratelli's men ever returned, she might not have a choice. She couldn't bear the thought of bringing danger to this makeshift family that had come to mean so much to her. One afternoon, as Joan was helping a customer in the shop, she noticed a sleek black car pull up outside. Her heart rate immediately spiked as two well-dressed men got out, their eyes scanning the street in a way that was all too familiar to her. Excusing herself from the customer, Joan hurried to the back room where Maria was doing inventory. "Maria," she said urgently, "I think Fratelli's men might be back. There are two guys outside who look... well, they look like trouble." Maria's face paled,