Page 265 of Niccolo

“Yes. My nephews are about to walk into a trap.”

“Interesting. However, it has not yet happened, has it?”

“It’s happening right now.”

“Well, until they are dead, the matter is not resolved.”

Fausto rolled his eyes in annoyance. “Once the matterisresolved, could you be persuaded to accept my offer?”

“There is still the damage to our reputation if we eliminated one of our clients.”

“Once Roberto’s dead, you can say I took over his investment in the Syndicate. For which I would pay a substantial fee, obviously.”

“A substantial fee… I like the sound of that.”

“The only problem is, I need Roberto to stay in Hong Kong. Can you arrange a meeting with your investors and tell Roberto it’s happening? There’s no way he’ll leave Hong Kong if he thinks he can still get the 50 million.”

“…yes… yes, I believe I can do that.”

“Wonderful. I should have news about my other nephews within an hour – two at the very most. I’ll call you as soon as I do.”

“Just a thought, Mr. Rosolini – would you care to listen in on the meeting with your nephew?”

Fausto cackled. “Mr. Lau, I would be delighted.”

“I’ll call you surreptitiously when he arrives.”

“I look forward to it.”

110

Niccolo

Minutes crept by like hours.

I sat in the parlor with Rachel, both of us stressed out but saying very little.

Every update I got from Adriano or Lars, I shared with her.

There were initial messages about them getting into Treporti and meeting Massimo, then about boarding the speedboats –

Then nothing.

Time seemed to stand still –

And then I got a text from Roberto.

About to meet with Lau and the other partners. Wish me luck.

Holy SHIT…

Maybe he reallywouldpull it off!

If Massimo, Lars, and Adriano prevailed, and so did Roberto, it would be a day filled with fucking miracles.

I texted back,In culo alla balena.

It literally meant,In the ass of the whale,but was the Italian way of saying ‘break a leg.’

---