The year is 1926. The Italian Riviera sparkles with a deceptive innocence, its turquoise waters masking the growing shadows of Mussolini’s Italy. At Hotel Portofino, the scent of sea salt and lemon trees mingles with the sharp tang of gin and the underlying hum of political tension.
Bella refused, her British resolve hardening. But Cecil, ever the opportunist, had already struck a deal with Danioni to cover his gambling debts. The betrayal hung in the air like the humid Mediterranean heat. The Climax Hotel Portofino
That night, a storm rolled off the Ligurian Sea. In the chaos of thunder and flickering candlelight, a valuable painting went missing from Cecil’s study—the centerpiece of his secret sale. The year is 1926