Page 115 of Niccolo

He sounded nervous, and rightly so.

“Look, Father, I know you’re mad – ”

“WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING?!” Fausto screamed.

“We needed to take decisive action – ”

“BUT INSTEAD YOU FUCKED UPEVERYTHING!Not only did you fail to kill Massimo, but now you have the richest family in theCosa Nostraangry at us!”

Aurelio went from apologetic to surly.“It should have worked – “”

“But it DIDN’T!”

“How’d the hit on Dario go?”Aurelio asked snidely.

I was guessing from his tone that he already knew.

“Don’t change the subject!” Fausto barked – but now he was on the defensive.

“She failed, didn’t she?”Aurelio sneered.“If she’d killed Dario, you wouldn’t give a shit about anything else.”

“We got the money, at least,” Fausto growled. “That alone will destroy them.”

“Then it will be even better when I take care of Massimo and the Widow.”

Fausto frowned. “What do you mean, ‘take care of’?”

“I had one of my men blow up Massimo’s plane – ”

“Yourmen?” Fausto asked sarcastically.

“Yes, MY men,”Aurelio snapped.“Wagner’s following MY orders, so they work for ME. Anyway, Massimo’s trapped in Venice, and I’ll have the Widow’s granddaughter soon – ”

“Wait – what?” Fausto interrupted, his eyes wide.

“I’ve sent men to grab her. They’ll have her any second.”

“Aurelio, NO,” Fausto ordered. “You are notto – ”

“Relax, I’ve got it under control.”

“AURELIO – ”

“I’ll call when Massimo’s dead and the Widow’s under my thumb.”

“AURELIO!”

But he’d already hung up.

Fausto threw the phone against the wall, cracking the screen.

I sat there in silence as the old man huffed and puffed in fury.

“He’s going to undo all our progress!” he snarled. “I convinced the rest of theCosa Nostrathat my nephews killed the Agrellas – but after this bullshit with the Widow, the Council willneverbelieve us!”

“Unless you disavow him,” I suggested. “If it comes to that.”

Fausto looked at me in shock. “What?”

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