Page 102 of Niccolo

If Mezzasalma had killed us, problem solved.

If Mezzasalma failed, the rest of theCosa Nostrawould still despise us and probably destroy us.

A double-pronged attack…

Lightning fast and bold…

And a win-win for Fausto, no matter what.

That type of strategy was completely unlike my uncle.

It felt like someoneelsewas manipulating the puppet strings.

Which is why, during our meeting in the parlor, there was one moment that surprised me –

And it came out of nowhere.

It was when I was telling my brothers why Fausto had to keep his intentions hidden from the rest of theCosa Nostra.

He had to do it all through puppets like the Turk and Mezzasalma so he could cover his tracks. And he’s been very, very clever at doing so.

At that moment, it was like my intuition reached up from the depths of my subconscious and handed me a clue.

Like a chess grandmaster, planning it all out beforehand… an unseen hand manipulating the pieces on the board…

As soon as I said it, I stood there, shocked.

No…

That’s impossible.

It couldn’t be her –

COULD IT?!

My mind traced back through my conversation with Aurora –

If that was even her fucking name!

When I’d suggested we were doing a dance, she had been the one to suggest we were playing chess instead.

When I’d asked her to play with me – what had she said?

Be careful – you might not be able to handle me.

Holy SHIT!

Then Massimo asked me a question, interrupting my reverie.

I filed my thoughts away for later so I could continue the business at hand.

But even though I had no proof, I was 100% sure of my conclusion:

I had just met Fausto’sconsigliere…

And the woman responsible for nearly wiping us off the face of the earth…twice.

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