Page 268 of Niccolo

There was a long pause.

At that point, I knew Roberto had figured it out.

“You sided with my uncle, didn’t you,”he asked coldly.

Lau’s cheery voice chimed in.“Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

That was Fausto’s cue, and he played it for all it was worth. “Hello, nephew.”

When a few seconds of silence went by, Fausto asked,“Il gatto ti ha mangiato la lingua?”

Cat got your tongue?

The hatred in Roberto’s voice was unmistakable.“Hello… Uncle.”

“Now, now, Roberto, don’t be cross just because you got outplayed,” Fausto gloated. “Although, I must admit I AM disappointed. I didn’t expect you to have Niccolo’s cunning, but I DID expect you to be a bit more cautious.”

I turned away in disgust and contempt.

Fausto was both a hypocrite and a fool.

Letting Aurelio proceed with this ego-driven plan in Venice?

The exact opposite of ‘a bit more cautious.’

I tuned out the conversation and focused on the screen.

I hated Fausto, I hated Aurelio, and I secretly hoped they would fail spectacularly –

But if theydidkill the majority of the brothers today, then my time here would be done.

I could get my remaining nine million euros and wash my hands of these assholes.

But if they die…

What happens to Niccolo?

Fear seized my heart.

I hoped he would run far, far away…

Somewhere I could join him after all this was over.

Not that he would ever forgive me…

But as long as I was fantasizing, I could at least give us a happy ending.

The volume was turned down on the tablet, so I couldn’t hear what was happening, but Lucia’s face suddenly scrunched up in what looked like agony –

Or an ear-splitting scream.

Zollner flinched on his next shot –

And then spun around and roared something, his face furious.

In response, Aurelio stepped over –

And punched Lucia in the face.

---