Page 333 of Niccolo

And then she turned away.

When Sofia began to question Rachel, she took a tack I wasn’t expecting.

“Your name is Rachel Bauer, correct?”

“That’s correct.”

“I find it odd that you’re testifying on behalf of the man you say you tried to kill.”

Now it wasmyturn to freeze as I saw where she was headed.

“I suppose,”Rachel admitted.

I tried to interrupt. “Don Severino, may I – ”

“Quiet,” he barked. “Proceed, Signorina Toscani.”

I just sighed and waited for the rest to play out. It was like watching a train crash you can’t prevent.

Sofia smirked at me, then asked, “Don’t you have some sort of relationship to the Rosolini family? Or, rather, to someone who works for them?”

Rachel paused.

“…yes.”

“Would that be Lars Henriksson, Dario Rosolini’s Enforcer?”

“I don’t know his job title, but – ”

“Lars Henriksson is Dario Rosolini’s Enforcer,” Sofia interrupted. “That is not in dispute. What is your relationship to him?”

A long pause.

“…I’m his wife.”

All the dons muttered and laughed in incredulity.

“REALLY,” Sofia said in a shocked voice, though it was all for effect. “When didthathappen?”

“Two days ago,”Rachel muttered. She knew she was being forced to dig her own grave.

“Two days ago!” Sofia exclaimed in surprise. “I’m confused… you tried to kill Dario Rosolini almost a month ago… and then you married his Enforcer twodaysago?! That’s rather astounding!”

“Lars and I knew each other from years before,”Rachel protested.

“So you knew Dario’s Enforcerbeforeyou tried to kill Dario – and then you married him four weeks later?”

“…yes.”

“With Dario Rosolini’s blessing?”

“…yes.”

Sofia looked around at the dons. “That’s what some people might call…unbelievable.”

“It’s not like – ”

“No further questions,” Sofia said –

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