Page 282 of Niccolo

Just to check and see if she was okay…

But it felt like doing so would be a betrayal of Massimo.

After all, it was partly Sofia’s fault he had almost died.

I wasn’t angry atherfor his present state.

I blamed Fausto and Aurelio for that.

But I still couldn’t bring myself to contact her while my brother hovered at the edge of life and death.

So I read about the clashes of long-ago families and how they had outsmarted their enemies…

And tried not to think of one particular enemy I would have given anything to make an ally.

I dozed fitfully, but every time I woke up, I checked for text messages.

Nothing from Roberto.

Around 1 AM, I got a call from Valentino’s phone.

“Hello?” I answered warily.

When Vicari spoke, it sounded like he was on speakerphone.“I’ve got him here. Hold on.”

Valentino’s voice was stressed.“Nic?”

He sounded like my little brother again, afraid and alone.

All my past resentments toward him disappeared, and I told him what had happened as gently as possible.

I covered the assault on San Michele and ended with Massimo’s surgery.

“The doctors said it was touch and go, but they think he’ll pull through.”

“…pull through?”Valentino repeated in disbelief.

“He was shot 17 times. Only three got through his body armor, but the ones that did were pretty bad.”

“But he’s going to be alright – isn’t he?”Valentino pleaded.

He sounded like he was five years old again, asking for reassurance his big brother would be okay.

I paused.

It was no good to sugarcoat it.

“I won’t lie to you, Val. I THINK so… but he has to make it through the night first.”

There was a long silence…

Then Valentino asked about Adriano, Lars, and our foot soldiers who had perished in the battle.

Once I’d finished, Valentino said,“I’m coming to Venice.”

I was just about to answer when Don Vicari beat me to the punch.

“No you’re not,”he said in the background.

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