Page 114 of Niccolo

Every one listed a new account that had been pilfered.

After 15 minutes, the total stood at 28.3 million euros.

“Holy shit,” I whispered.

Fausto grinned. “Ironic, isn’t it? My nephews paid for your fee to kill them.”

I felt a twinge of guilt and thought of Niccolo.

Fausto’s cell phone rang.

Not a text, but a call.

“Is it Aurelio?” I asked.

“No, it’s Rachel Bauer.” Fausto answered the call and held the phone to his ear. “Well?”

I knew the result by the way his face darkened.

Shit.

“I see. Was there a reason why?” he asked gruffly.

I assumed he was asking why she missed.

She said something, but Fausto’s face stayed inscrutable.

He didn’t answer for almost five seconds, but when he did, his voice was cold. “Because you wouldn’t have taken the job.”

Oh, shit.

She must have seen Lars.

“Of course I knew,” he said contemptuously.

Jesus Christ, Fausto!I thought in terror.PLEASE don’t get an assassin pissed off at us!

“What about a second attempt?” he asked.

She must have answerednobecause he said “Fine” in an irritated voice.

Then she must have asked a question.

“Aren’t we?” he asked coolly. After a pause, Fausto said, “Then I’m fine, too. Consider our business concluded. When you leave the car, text me the location. I’ll have someone retrieve it.”

And he hung up.

I hazarded a guess. “She missed – and she knows about Lars.”

“Yes,” Fausto confirmed angrily.

“But once we let Lars know it was her, it’ll throw him off balance,” I said, reiterating the reason Rachel had been such an excellent choice in the first place. “And if Lars is distracted, he’ll make mistakes.

“…yes,” Fausto said, coming back around to a calmer state of mind. Then he grinned wickedly. “At least we have all their money.”

50

When Aurelio finally called half an hour later, Fausto put him on speakerphone.

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