Page 299 of Niccolo

I was impressed –

But then the old Fausto reemerged.

His eyebrows knitted into a scowl, and rage flickered in his eyes. “But my nephews… my nephewshave to pay.”

I thought of Niccolo.

Would HE have to pay, too?

…of course he would.

“They MUST pay for this – with their lives,” Fausto snarled as he stared at his son’s body. “Wemustkill them all – and for your help, I will double your fee to 20 million euros.”

Twenty million?!

Ten million would have funded my lawsuit against my tormentors and restored me to my old life as a chess master –

But twenty meant I could forget the old boys’ club entirely.

If I was careful with the money and invested it wisely, I could live in luxury for the rest of my life.

I would never be at any man’s mercy again.

I could just…

…disappear.

Fausto looked over at me. His gaze burned with a dark madness.

“Are you with me?” he asked.

I didn’t look away – but in my mind’s eye, I remembered the morgue attendant’s legs kicking wildly in the air, his eyes bugging out, his face turning purple as his throat was crushed.

If I wasn’t careful, that would be my fate, too.

I held my breath –

Then made my decision.

“Yes,” I whispered.

125

Niccolo

The less said about Sicily, the better.

Vicari’s assholery upon our arrival –

Valentino sayingI can’tat the altar –

Isabella’s shocking revelation –

The Mexican stand-off with Vicari and his men –

The old lady’s evenmoreshocking revelation –

Her invocation of a Sicilian blood oath to end the entire conflict –

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