The radial streets of Bologna illustrate the dilemmas of choice that face Richard, who, until now, has escaped his past in Italy by estranging himself on Dartmoor. Elio, who he has not seen for fifteen years, tracks him down, wanting answers to questions concerning his mother's death. Richard struggles to hide a terrible secret as they recollect their time together as young men in Bologna in the lead-up to the train-station bombing. And when friendship deepens into forbidden love the truth threatens to destroy their world.