Page 247 of Niccolo

At first I sent her an apology:

I said some things I shouldn’t have.

I’m sorry.

When I didn’t hear anything for 24 hours, I texted,I miss you.

Every day I sent her something new.

Nothing happened…

Either withher,or with anything else.

Then everything happened all at once.

And I mean EVERYTHING.

What with Massimo and Lars both missing, I began to worry more about my twin brother – even though he’d been sending me terse updates since the last time we’d spoken.

I knew he wasn’t dead or in trouble, but I also knew he wasn’t making any progress in getting our money back.

That was when I decided to talk to Dario.

“I think that we should bring Roberto home,” I told him.

He looked at me in surprise. “What about the 50 million euros?”

“It’s been nearly two weeks. If they haven’t given it to him yet, there’s a reason.”

Dario looked grim. “You think Lau’s working with Fausto?”

“I don’t know aboutthat,exactly… but Lau’s stalling for areason, whatever it is.”

“Roberto won’t want to come back until he gets the money,” Dario pointed out.

“Which is why I need a direct order fromyouto compel him.”

“Tell him, if there’s ANY sign of danger, to return home. That’s a direct order.”

“Thank you,” I said gratefully.

Dario nodded. “We can’t afford to lose him.”

We left it unsaid that we might have already lost Massimo and Lars.

When I called Roberto, he didn’t sound happy to hear from me.

He wasn’t any happier when I told him, “I’ve talked with Dario, and we don’t care about the money anymore. I mean,obviously we care, but we care about YOU more. With Massimo and Lars both… in trouble… we can’t afford to lose you.”

“I’m not leaving without the money, Nic. I’ll get it – I promise.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about. Right now, I’m betting the Syndicate is stalling you because they don’t want to kill you. They know that if they do, we’ll come after them. But if Fausto succeeds, the Syndicate won’t have to worry about reprisals. And with two of us potentially… gone…”

Roberto got the picture.

“The Syndicate might decide to make it three by taking me out,”he said softly.

“Yes. Which is why Dario and I want you back home.”

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