Page 257 of Niccolo

The fact that Adriano was now pointing a gun at him must have been incredibly confusing for them.

I didn’t give a shit.

“GUARDS!” I screamed.

Thatlit a fire under their asses.

Every man pulled his gun and pointed it at the woman.

“Niccolo!” Lars yelled angrily. “It’s not what you – ”

“STOP!” Dario suddenly roared.

Everyone went silent.

I waited for Dario to rip Lars a new asshole.

Or, at the very least, to ask him what the hell he was thinking.

It didn’t quite happen that way.

“False alarm, everyone,” Dario said to the foot soldiers. “Please go to the foyer so we can talk in private.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “DARIO! She’s – ”

“Isaid,”he repeated coldly as he stared right at me,“false… alarm.Gentlemen…please go to the foyer.”

WHAT THE ACTUAL GODDAMNFUCK?!

The foot soldiers looked confused for a second, then holstered their pistols and left the room.

Only one person hadn’t stood down yet, and was still pointing his gun at Lars and the woman.

It was unusual for Adriano to be the most sensible person in the room, but I guess there’s a first time for everything.

“Adriano,” Dario said quietly. “Put the gun away.”

Adriano looked confused, but he slipped his pistol back into his shoulder harness.

Dario gave a small smile. “Lucky my wife is in bed already, or that would have nearly frightened her to death.”

Then he gestured at Rachel as though to ask,What’s going on?

Lars opened and closed his mouth as though trying to find the wherewithal to speak…

And then he gave one of the most astounding speeches I’d ever heard.

“Don Rosolini, it’s true… this is the woman who tried to kill you. But I beg of you, hear me out before you decide.

“Fausto hired her. She didn’t know who you were, and she had no ideaIworked for you. There was no personal animus on her part. She was just doing a job.

“Please… consider everything I ever did for you during our time at San Vittore. If you will only forgive her, the slate will be wiped clean. I will release you from our previous agreement and will do anything you ask in the future, without question. Your word will be my command.

“Please, Don Rosolini… I beg you… spare the life of the woman I love.”

Lars was normally a cool customer – steely and calm under extreme pressure.

But the passion in his voice –

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