Page 12 of Niccolo

“They’re guarding him like he shits diamonds,” Papa said. “We can’t reach him.”

“And even if we could, bribery of public officials is one thing,” Fausto said. “Taking out a state’s witness is quite another. They want us locked up for this – but if we kill him, they’ll have our heads on pikes.”

“What are we looking at, then?” I asked.

“It’s an embarrassment for the city – over a dozen judges on the take – so they’ll probably try to cut a deal to keep it out of the press,” Fausto said. “But it could still be ten, maybe twenty years in prison.”

“And probably San Vittore,” Papa grunted.

FUCK.

San Vittore was the most infamous prison in all of Italy. It was a hellhole – dirty, crowded, and violent. It was also where most organized crime figures were sent, which made it ten times more dangerous. Members of theCosa Nostrawere locked up with rivals from theCamorra,‘Ndrangheta,and a dozen other smaller organizations. Assassinations were constant, mostly carried out by shivving or the slitting of throats.

I looked at Uncle Fausto with pity and dread.

This man I loved was about to be cast into hell.

After my father, Fausto was the highest in the chain of command. Asconsigliere,it was his duty to tell the cops,It was all my doing. My brother Leonardo knew nothing about it.

Uncle Fausto would fall on his sword so his don did not go to prison.

I sat there waiting for him to say,I’ll turn myself in immediately.

And I waited.

And waited.

“…well?!” I finally said.

Fausto looked grim. “I won’t survive San Vittore. We all know it.”

I stared at him in astonishment.

“…SO?!” I cried out.

“What do you mean, ‘so’?” Fausto snapped.

“You’re theconsigliere!”I raged. “This is your duty – to take a bullet for the family!”

“We’ll look at other alternatives,” Papa said.

“WHAT other alternatives?! There AREno other alternatives! They’ll crucify all of us if you don’t take the fall!”

“He’s right,” Fausto said, sounding like a condemned man who had accepted his fate.

“Fausto – no!” Papa pleaded.

“Nico’s right, Leonardo. It’s my duty,” Fausto said somberly. “They’ll continue to come after us until they get someone high up enough to satisfy their bloodlust. I’m the only one who can – ”

“I’ll do it,” Dario interrupted.

Up until that point, he hadn’t said a word. He’d just sat there in silence, taking everything in.

We all looked at him in surprise.

“Do what?” I asked.

“Take the fall,” he replied calmly. “I’ll plead guilty to the bribery in exchange for a deal.”

---