Page 279 of Niccolo

Dario bowed and kissed the ring on her outstretched hand.

“Signora Fioretti,” he said respectfully. “We are truly grateful to be received in your beautiful home.”

“You are most welcome, Don Rosolini. I am truly grateful for your brothers’ valor in returning my granddaughter safely to me… but I am forever indebted to Massimo. Anything I can do for you and your family, I am at your disposal.”

“Thank you. May I introduce my wife Alessandra and my sister-in-law Bianca.”

Alessandra and Bianca acted shy, but the old woman gave them a warm smile. “Welcome.”

“This is my brother andconsigliere,Niccolo,” Dario continued.

We had already made each other’s acquaintance over the phone, but protocol dictated that I act as though I were meeting a head of state for the first time.

“Signora Fioretti,” I said as I kissed her ring. “An honor.”

“Thank you,” she said, giving me a warm smile. Then her eyes fell on Rachel. “And who is this?”

I couldn’t help myself. “Oh, she’s a former MI6 agent who tried to kill Dario a few weeks ago.”

The Widow’s expression of shock and horror was priceless.

On second thought, I probably shouldn’t have done it. Might’ve given her a coronary.

Dario sighed in exasperation. “You’ll have to forgive my brother, Signora. This is Rachel, the fiancée of Lars, one of the men who helped save your granddaughter.”

“Oh yes, the handsome Swede.”

“That’s the one,” Rachel said with a smile.

The Widow frowned at Dario. “Did shereallytry to kill you?”

Dario glowered at me. “It was a misunderstanding.”

“Isthatwhat we’re calling it now?” I asked. Couldn’t help myself – again.

The Widow gave Rachel some side-eye. “But youdidtry to kill him?”

“It was before we knew each other,” Rachel said nervously.

“WELL,” said the Widow, “thank heaven you and I know each other now.”

Ha!

So the old batdidhave a sense of humor!

She demonstrated it even more after she sent Rachel up to see Lars.

She turned to Dario and said, “I must say, you surround yourself with the mostinterestingpeople, Don Rosolini.”

“Yes, unfortunately,” I couldn’t help adding.

Rachel stayed behind, but the rest of us – Dario, Alessandra, Bianca, Lars, and I – accompanied the Widow to the hospital.

We rode in an enclosed teak boat that the Widow assured us was bulletproof. It took us through a series of canals to the bay on the north side of Venice, and from there to the main entrance of the hospital.

Lucia was in a private waiting room being guarded by the Widow’s men. Lars said she had been wearing a bloodstained dress when the helicopter airlifted her and Massimo off San Michele – but now she had on a Università Ca’ Foscari hoodie and sweatpants.

Still, her long hair was in disarray, her face was pale, and there was a redness to her eyes that let me know she had recently been crying.

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