Page 372 of Niccolo

I had only an instant to make a decision.

I looked at the dozens of steps to thepalazzo’sfront door.

We’d never make it in time.

“FOLLOW LARS!” I screamed.

Adriano grabbed onto Dario and headed for the front of the limo, followed by Valentino and Roberto.

The doors of the SUV flung open, and four men with bulletproof vests and guns poured out.

I recognized them all as former foot soldiers who had gone with Fausto after Papa died.

SHIT –

“GO, GO!” I screamed as I darted after Dario and the others.

Massimo was already halfway down the steps –

No time to turn back and no time to reach the bottom.

He raised his gun –

But not before the men from the SUV opened fire.

BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM!

Massimo’s white shirt exploded red…

And my brother toppled onto the steps and laid still.

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Sofia

“YES!” Fausto roared as we saw Massimo fall onto the marble steps from the POVs of four different body cameras.

I removed another piece from the board.

“Pawn takes rook,” I murmured.

156

Niccolo

What followed was utter chaos.

Adriano and Valentino flanked Dario as they ran for the ruins up ahead.

Roberto followed behind them and glanced back at me as I raced to catch up.

Behind us came the syncopated chatter of gunfire.

And then, up ahead, a fusillade of shots –

Like ten or more men had fired at once.

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