Chapter 53: Plans

Matteo felt a mix of hope and desperation. "A safe house? Where exactly?"

Cosmos shrugged. "I don't know the exact location, but she said it's by a river where the mockingbirds sing ceaselessly. That's all I know."

Matteo stared at him, trying to gauge if he was being truthful. "If you're lying to me..."

Cosmos interrupted, his voice suddenly serious. "Look, Matteo, I have no reason to lie. I want to help you, but my hands are tied. She's always been a ghost, slipping away whenever she felt threatened."

Matteo nodded slowly. "If you hear anything else, you'll tell me?"

Cosmos met his gaze. "Of course. I don't want anything bad to happen to Rosalie. Despite everything, I did care for her mother. But I can't promise anything more than that."

Matteo snickered at his show of sincerity.

Moving closer to him, he said, "You should be an actor instead, you fucking pedophile."