Page 56 of Niccolo

Roberto, the accountant…

Lars, who was quite obviously a Swede.

All of them were conventionally handsome but unappealing to me.

That is, until I got to Niccolo.

He had a cunning look in his eyes –

And the impish grin of a trickster.

He was also very handsome.

Though they were nearly identical in facial features, his brother Roberto looked stiff and formal in his three-piece suits.

In contrast, Niccolo was very casual, which I liked. He had more of a ‘just rolled out of bed looking hot’ vibe.

I put that all out of my mind, though.

No use to dwell on the attractiveness of someone you had to kill.

So this is him.

My true opponent…

My REAL enemy.

“And you say Niccolo is the one we need to worry about?” I asked as I stared at the photograph.

“Primarily, although each has his own particular strengths,” Fausto said as he walked over to a table full of bottles and set out two glasses. “Care for a drink?”

“No.” I glanced over as he poured scotch into both glasses. “I told you, I don’t want one.”

“It’s not for you.”

Suddenly, the door to the study banged open.

I looked over in alarm as a man in his late 20s stormed into the study, slamming the door loudly behind him.

He was dressed in a designer suit and a black shirt. His long hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and his face – while handsome – was twisted with anger.

“You didn’t think to let me know she was here?” he snarled at Fausto.

“My son, Aurelio,” Fausto said with amused indifference to his son’s anger. “Aurelio, this is Sofia Toscani.”

Aurelio looked me up and down like he was inspecting something he might buy but didn’t particularly want.

“So you’re the newconsigliere,” he said in disgust.

“I am,” I replied coldly.

“And what great insights do you bring to the table?” he asked in a mocking voice.

“Well, for one, I can seeyou’regoing to be one of our biggest liabilities,” I shot back.

Aurelio’s face turned red with rage. He bunched up his fists at his side –

But Fausto chuckled as he walked over to us.

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