Page 293 of Niccolo

Now Vicari was enraged.“I’m warning you, consigliere – ”

“Or what? You’ll call off the wedding? We both know THAT’S not going to happen. You’d never jeopardize your plans. Or maybe you’re threatening me with killing my brother? If it hasn’t been made obvious to you yet, I’m not terribly fond of him at the moment.”

I put fire and brimstone into my next words.

“But if you DO harm Valentino in ANY way, rest assured – as soon as we’re finished with Fausto, we’ll come knocking on YOUR door. In fact, maybe we’ll deal with you FIRST, just for the hell of it.

“Trust me – you do NOT want that.

“So no, you’re not getting an apology from Valentino, from me, or anyone else. Either continue with the wedding, or don’t. But that’s the end of our business today.”

There was a long silence.

Part of me wondered if I’d overplayed my hand…

And if the next thing I heard would be a gunshot.

It wasn’t.

“Fine,”Vicari seethed.“Our business is complete.”

And then he hung up.

“Goddamn motherfucking son of a whore,” I snarled, then turned around –

Only to see a little old grandmother sitting in a chair at the back of the chapel.

She stared at me with eyes wide as saucers.

“Sorry,” I said to the old lady.

I turned to the picture of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus.

“Sorry,” I said.

Then I crossed myself and hastily walked out of the chapel.

123

Accompanied by five of the Widow’s foot soldiers, I went to meet Roberto at the airport at 8PM.

Adriano and Massimo were still recuperating in the hospital, so they were out.

I didn’t want Dario to go; it would put him in unnecessary danger.

And though Lars offered to come, he was still absolutely exhausted.

I assured everyone that it would be fine if I went alone and told them we would see them afterwards.

The foot soldiers took me by boat across the bay. From there, a trio of Rolls-Royces drove us to the airport, where we waited on the tarmac.

Shortly after 8PM, a small jet taxied into a hangar.

“Let’s go,” I announced as I got out of the car, followed by the foot soldiers.

A moment later, my heart leapt as I saw my twin brother walking towards me.

He’d just finished a 13-hour plane trip after a life-and-death adventure –

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