Page 254 of Niccolo

“I want Zollner to know that I’m going to fuckin’ kill him,”he snarled.“Do you hear that, Friedrich? You’re going to die a very slow and painful death.”

I assumed ‘Friedrich’ was the ‘professional’ Aurelio had sent.

“Let me get this straight – right now, you’re basically sending a MESSAGE to the man who took Lucia.”

“Correct.”

“‘A slow and painful death’ – that’s making it personal.”

“It is what it is.”

“In fact, it’s VERY personal, considering you were just supposed to be Lucia’s bodyguard.”

For the first time, Massimo stayed silent.

I groaned. “TELL me you didn’t sleep with her!”

“I could, but I’d be lying.”

“You fucking IDIOT! The Widow willkillyou – ”

“It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it LIKE, exactly?!”

“I asked her to marry me.”

I sat there, stunned, until I finally found my voice. “Every time you speak, I don’t think you can shock me again – and then you go and prove me wrong. You PROPOSED to her?!”

“And she said ‘yes.’”

“Jesus – Massimo – ”

“Don’t start. You can chew me out later when she’s safe.”

“Why are you telling me this over a recorded line?! He’ll have that much more leverage over you!”

“Zollner already knows. He knew before he came after us.”

“Wonderful,” I griped. “So tell me, how the fuck are we supposed to save your new fiancée?”

“Zollner is taking her to San Michele, the cemetery island near Venice. That’s where he’s going to turn Lucia over to Aurelio.”

“How do you know all that?”

“Zollner told me.”

“He TOLD you?!”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s quite obviously – ”

“A trap.”

“He’s using her as bait – ”

“Because he knows I’ll come after her.”

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