Page 97 of Niccolo

“Wealwaysmet in that room,” Fausto said. “Give it a minute – it’ll take a while for everyone to arrive.”

“In the meantime, we should discuss what we’re going to do,” I said.

“If they reallydoknow, then we have to move the hit up to tomorrow morning,” Fausto said. “Actually, whether they know or not, we might as well do it anyway. Our assassin is ready, so – ”

“We should send in Wagner NOW!” Aurelio insisted. “Before the wedding is over!”

“No,” Fausto said. “I told you, I can’t risk the rest of theCosa Nostraturning against me.”

“If there aren’t any survivors left to tell them – ”

“Youfool!”Fausto snapped. “Think about it: it will takehoursfor Wagner to arrive. They’ll have to approach the mansion on the ground or come in via helicopter. Either way, Dario and the others will hear them coming and retreat inside the house. Wagner is for when wedraw them out into the open,not for an assault on a fuckingcastle.”

Aurelio looked at his father with a little more hatred but kept quiet.

“What about the financial piece of the puzzle?” I asked.

“It’s ready to go,” Fausto said. “I’ll put it into action as soon as we confirm my nephews know what’s going on.”

42

Niccolo

Iwas still reeling with disappointment as I walked over to the others to determine what the hell had just happened.

Adriano had pulled Dario aside and was whispering angrily to him. Even by Adriano standards, he seemed more worked up than usual.

Poor Bianca was standing off to the side, pale as a ghost.

What the fuck?

Had Aurelio made a comment to Bianca? Something that had set Adriano off?

But then why was Valentino angry while Massimo and Lars were calm and unaffected?

Something didn’t make sense.

“What’s going on?” I asked as I approached the group.

Dario turned to look at me, his face almost as grim as when the Turk had taken Alessandra hostage. “We have a problem.”

43

Sofia

Nothing had happened by the time we arrived at Fausto’s compound.

As the car came to a halt in front of the McMansion, Fausto rapped on the screen and the driver rolled it down again.

“Go get our guest and bring her to the main house,” Fausto ordered, then got out of the Rolls.

We followed him into the house, listening intently for any sound from the phone.

Nothing came.

Five minutes later, a foot soldier knocked on the door of the library. When Fausto said to enter, he poked his head in. “The woman’s out front, boss.”

Fausto looked at me. “Let me know the instant you get confirmation.”

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