Page 370 of Niccolo

I looked over in shock as a motorcycle drove up on the sidewalk at full speed.

Two men, all in black, were on it –

And one held a pistol.

Everything seemed to slow down.

“GUN!” Lars bellowed.

Adriano, Valentino, and Roberto all dove on top of Dario.

Lars and Rachel both pulled Glocks –

But the motorcycle was already on top of us.

BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM!

The rider in the back fired wildly as the motorcycle sped past us on the sidewalk.

He nearly ran over Lars, who had to dive out of the way.

Rachel was between the bike and Dario –

And as the motorcycle passed by her and the rider on the back fired –

BLAM BLAM BLAM!

– red spots bloomed across the front of Rachel’s white blouse.

She toppled backwards onto the ground, a stunned look on her face.

“RACHEL!” Lars screamed, utter panic in his voice.

He ran over to her and knelt at her side.

She lay still, eyes glassy, mouth open, as blood turned her blouse crimson.

She was already gone.

The motorcycle jumped the curb and tried to maneuver through the tightly packed vehicles on the street.

The cars’ drivers were all panicking and getting into fender benders.

I saw a look of pure rage and madness fill Lars’s face.

He stood – struck a shooter’s pose – aimed –

And fired.

BLAM BLAM BLAM!

I don’t know what happened, exactly, but the motorcycle slammed into a parked car across the street.

As the bike toppled over, the driver and gunman sprinted off, heading for the ruins of the Palatine Hill.

Lars immediately bolted after them.

“LARS, NO!” I screamed.

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