Page 262 of Niccolo

“Yes. If I’d walked into MI6 with an assassin who’d tried to kill someone in the agency, and asked for all to be forgiven just because I vouched for him, MI6 would have shot the assassin and questioned my sanity. So I think you’re behaving rationally.”

“Bythatstandard, should I go ahead and shootyou?”I asked sweetly.

She smiled in amusement. “That wasn’t what I’d hoped you’d take away from that example.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t.”

Still, I am nothing if not a considerate host. I had the kitchen staff bring each of us a tray with breakfast.

She ate hungrily. We verbally jousted a bit, at which point I realized something:

Rachel might have met Sofia – and she might have witnessed the dynamic between her and Fausto. How my uncle treated her.

Rachel might just be able to provide some information about how I could turn Sofia against him.

“You know, I was curious about something,” I started –

When my cell rang.

I checked the screen.

The number was a contact of mine in Trieste, a boat dealer I trusted and had used before to hire out yachts. I’d dragged him out of bed 30 minutes ago to see if he could help with the speedboats.

I excused myself and went to the other side of the room to talk to him.

By the end of the call, I’d secured the boats in exchange for 50,000 euros a day – plus a promise to replace them if they were damaged.

I hope you come through with that 50 million euros, Roberto,I thought, then remembered I needed to call him.

Fuck it. We’d figure out how to pay the boat dealer back without the 50 mil. Roberto needed to come homenow.

I texted Adriano and Lars,The boats are on the way and will meet you in Treporti.

Then I walked back and sat down opposite Rachel, who was still eating.

I returned to my original plan to ask her about Fausto. “As I was saying – ”

“I’d like to make a point,” she interrupted.

“Which is?”

She held up both her hands.

No handcuffs – like a magic trick.

My life passed in front of my eyes.

FUCK – !

YOU FUCKING IDIOT, YOU TOOK YOUR EYES OFF HER!

I whipped my gun up level with her head, but she quickly cuffed herself back to the chair.

“Calm down. I wanted to demonstrate that Icouldhave killed you just now… but I didn’t. Because I truly appreciate Dario forgiving me, and because I bear no ill will towards him oranyof you. Lars obviously cares a great deal for you, your brother, and your entire family… and by extension, that means I’ll never hurtanyof you.”

Holy SHIT.

I had just made a deadly mistake.

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