Page 308 of Niccolo

So I wasn’t sure I would call them.

My brothers would all be there since it was our family who had petitioned the Council –

But we wouldn’t need Caterina, Mei-ling, or Alessandra. They could remain at thepalazzo.

“But what about the Turk taking me hostage?” Alessandra asked.

“Unfortunately, the Turk is the weakest link in our argument. We have nothing definitively linking him to Fausto – unless he mentioned something you haven’t told me.”

Alessandra shook her head glumly.

“Then I fear your testimony won’t be of much use.”

Lars asked, “What about me? Why aren’t I going?”

I didn’t want to tell him the real reason yet, so I simply said, “You won’t be needed to testify, so I’d like you to keep Caterina, Mei-ling, and Alessandra safe.”

“What about keepingyou guyssafe?”

“We’ll be under Don Severino’s personal protection at the Council. Trust me – thereisno safer place in Rome. No one would dare attack us right under his nose.”

Lars seemed dubious, but he let it go.

“How are you going to prove he murdered Papa?” Adriano asked.

“I’m probably just going to stick to him trying to kill Dario and Roberto.”

“What?! WHY?!”

“Because we don’t have the evidence to prove his involvement in Papa’s death.”

“You’ve got to be kidding!” Adriano said angrily. “Youknowhe hired the old woman!”

“Ibelievehe did, yes. But what Ibelieveand what I canproveare two entirely different things.”

While Adriano fumed, Valentino asked, “Can the Council kill Fausto?”

I explained that death was generally reserved for those who betrayed the entireCosa Nostra.Say, someone who worked with the police to bring another family down.

Feuds between families – even ones that involved murder, like slaughtering the Agrellas – didn’t merit capital punishment. Business was business.

It was possible, however, that the Council could force Fausto to make financial restitution. They might demand he give us part of his territory.

He could even be formally banished from theCosa Nostra,although that was unlikely.

It didn’t matter. If we could show he had tried to murder Dario and Roberto, the damage would be done. No one in theCosa Nostrawould ever trust him enough to do business with him again. He would be ostracized – banished in all but name.

And in his weakened state, someone would eventually pick him off.

Of course, that ‘someone’ would most likely beus.

On the other hand, if he won, he could counter-sue for slander. Although unlikely, we might have to potentially pony up tens of millions of dollars.

“You’ve gotta be fuckin’ kidding me,” Adriano snarled.

“I am not.”

“Then youbetter fuckin’ win.”

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