Page 285 of Niccolo

But I just said goodnight and went back to my room.

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Before I settled in for the night, I texted Roberto again to call me.

Hong Kong was six hours ahead, so heshouldbe awake – or would be fairly soon.

If he was alive.

Stop it,I told myself as I sent the message.

I tried to go to sleep, but my mind was restless, so I returned to my book on the Medicis and Borgias.

At 3AM, a call came through from a number I didn’t recognize –

But it was a Hong Kong area code.

As soon as I answered, Roberto said in Italian,“It’s me, and I’m outstanding.”

“Thank GOD!” I cried out. I could hear sirens and road noise in the background. “I’ve been trying to call you, but you don’t pick up – what the fuck is going on over there?!”

“Lau took my phone. I need you to wipe it with that remote software program we installed.”

“Was I right?” I asked in fear rather than the satisfaction ofI told you so. “Were they working with Fausto?”

“You were right,”Roberto said grimly.“But I have a shot to turn it around.”

“What are you going to – ”

“I don’t have much time and I need you to write something down. Have you got a piece of paper?”

I grabbed a pen and paper from the desk in the room. “Go ahead.”

He rattled off a sequence of letters and numbers, along with 15 random words. Then he told me exactly how to use the information to access his Bitcoin account.

“If negotiations go well, you’ll need it to access any money I recover.”

I frowned. “Why can’t YOU access it yourself?”

He answered with dry gallows humor.“In case negotiations don’t go well enough.”

“Are you fucking with me right now?”

“No.”

“Are you saying you could DIE?!” I asked with rising panic.

“It’s a distinct possibility.”

“ROBERTO – ”

“There’s no time. How’s Massimo?”

“He came out of surgery okay, the doctors think he’ll live – Roberto, what the FUCK is going on?!”

“I’ll call you as soon as I’m safe, but check that account every 15 minutes. If you don’t hear from me within three hours, sell any crypto you get and transfer it to a bank immediately. Do you understand?”

“Roberto – ”

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