Page 118 of Niccolo

My twin looked at me in surprise, likeWhat the fuck does THAT have to do with anything?“They’re practically right next to each other, just across the bay. Why?”

Hmmm…

“Give me and Dario a minute alone, will you?” I said.

“Whatever you’re going to say, why can’t you say it in front of me?” he asked in irritation.

“Justgive us a minute,alright?”

“Fine,” Roberto grumbled, then went out into the hallway.

“What was thatall about?” Dario asked once the door was closed.

As I talked, I pulled out my cell phone to check something.

“I think there’s a chance Fausto’sconsiglieremight be going to Macau.” I found the poker site in my search history and clicked the list of players. “Aha – yes – she’s registered for a poker tournament at the El Dorado Macau, which starts tomorrow.”

“What?!” Dario exclaimed. “Why would she dothat?!”

“That’s what she was doing when Fausto recruited her.”

Dario looked at me like I was insane.

I hadn’t told him about the poker part yet, and I didn’t want to bring up vibrating anal beads, so I just said, “It’s a long story.”

“But they could potentially finish us off in days – why the hell would she go to Macau?!”

“Because Fausto’s a cheap motherfucker and won’t pay her till we’re dead. She’ll go there for the money, or to spite him – maybe both.”

I explained my reasoning, given her participation in past tournaments.

“But now that they’re executing the attack, it makes no sense,” Dario protested.

“I agree, but it’s worth a shot. We have to send Roberto to Hong Kong anyway, so I might as well tag along.”

Dario shook his head. “Given the circumstances, I don’t think it’s wise to let him go.”

“I would ordinarily agree, but we’re out of options. We need the money. And if he thinks he can only get it back by begging them in person, I trust his judgment.”

“And you – you’d abandon your duties asconsigliereto try to seduce this woman?” Dario said coldly.

“No, I’ll be actingwithinmy duties asconsiglierein trying to seduce her. If I win her over to our side, we have an incredibly powerful ally, and we deprive Fausto of his single greatest asset. Besides, it’s not like I’m a physical powerhouse like Lars. My strength is the advice I give you, and I can do that over a cell phone just as easily as I can in person.”

“And what if this woman says no?”

I paused.

I didn’t want to answer, but I knew I had to.

“Then I’ll make sure she doesn’t leave Hong Kong alive,” I said quietly.

Dario looked at me sideways. “Are you sure you’re capable of that?”

No.

“I’ll have to be,” I replied.

“Realistically, what are the odds she’s there?”

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