Page 276 of Legacy

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‘Get her there safe. Protect her with your life.’

He sends a thumbs up.

I dial Maksim. No answer. Not unusual, but it pisses me off anyway.

We have a war to win, and he needs to get his ass back before I drag him here myself.

The phone vibrates, my gut stirs.

I stare at the screen a second longer as it lights up.

Silvio.

My father’s consigliere.

I answer.

“Angelo.”

His voice is tight. Off.

“You need to come,” he says. “Now. It’s your father.”

The room stops.

I don’t speak. Just move.

***

The hospital hallway smells like bleach and death.

Santo is already there. So is Luca. Nico. All of us called. None of us told.

I spot Silvio first.

He looks wrecked.

Good.

I cross the room in three strides and slam him against the wall.

“When?”

He winces. “This morning. Over breakfast. It was fast.”

I press harder. I want to hurt him. I want it to be him. I want this to make sense.

Santo grabs my shoulder and pulls me back.

“Not here,” he mutters.

I shake him off.

The attending doctor is speaking but I barely hear him. Just the phrase:“suspected embolism.”

Bullshit.

“I want an autopsy,” I say.

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