Page 274 of Niccolo

When I didn’t get an immediate reply, I figured he was already in the meeting with Lau and couldn’t reply.

Little did I know.

115

Sofia

Minutes crept by as Fausto wept on the floor.

Eventually, though, he lifted his head.

When he did, his eyes shone with the same madness I had seen in Massimo when he saw what Aurelio had done to Lucia.

Without getting up from the floor, Fausto dialed on his cell…

Lifted the phone to his ear…

And snarled, “Lau… keep the 50 million, and I’ll pay you 10 million more if you fucking kill him right now.”

Himbeing Roberto.

My heart froze in my chest.

I couldn’t hear what Lau said –

But from Fausto’s response, it was clear he didn’t get the answer he wanted.

“It’s NOT impossible!” he shouted. “Just fucking KILL him!”

Another bit of silence…

Then Fausto raged, “LISTEN TO ME – ”

Someone must have interrupted him.

From the pure hatred on Fausto’s face, I was guessing it was Roberto taunting him.

Maybe he already knew that Aurelio was dead.

Maybe he’d gotten a text.

However he knew, and whatever he said, Roberto’s words made Fausto nearly lose his mind.

“You’re dead, you little piece of shit – and your fucking halfwit brothers with you,” he rasped. “I’ll send you all to hell myself.”

Then he hung up the phone.

I stood there, terrified.

Fausto looked utterly demented as he crouched there on all fours.

Rage, grief, anguish, horror – they all twisted his features in a maelstrom of emotion.

I stayed silent for a long, long moment…

And then I felt I had to say something.Anythingto try to comfort him.

“It wasn’t your fault,” I whispered.

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