Page 56 of The Broker

We take Antonio’s helicopter there. We race to the hospital as soon as we land, and I burst into the waiting room. Mara is there, as is Liliana, fast asleep, her head on her mother’s lap. “What happened?”

Mara lifts her head up. When she sees me, relief fills her face, followed quickly by anger. She knows Giorgio acts as my informant and blames me for what’s happened.

She’s right to do so.

But she doesn’t voice her recriminations. “He got a message on his phone,” he says tonelessly. “He went to meet someone.”

“Who?” I demand.

“I don’t know. He didn’t tell me.” She exhales shakily. “I had a bad feeling about it. I begged him not to go.”

“He went anyway.”

“He said he had to.” She swallows. “But he promised me he’d call me every ten minutes. When he didn’t, Liliana and I went out to investigate. I was tracking his phone, you see.”

Smart. “You found him.”

She nods. “He’d been shot. His stomach was torn up.” She swallows a sob. “I loaded him into the car and came here. The hospital in Bergamo was closer, but—”

“You made the right call. As soon as he’s stable, we’ll move him to Venice. You and Liliana, too. Bergamo isn’t safe for you anymore. I’ll arrange an apartment.”

“Thank you.” She strokes Liliana’s pale blond hair absently. “They said the surgery would be at least four hours long. They told me I didn’t have to wait, but—”

Tears well up in her eyes, and she averts her gaze. “You want a cup of coffee?” I ask her. “Something to eat?”

“Coffee, please.”

I signal for the guys, who are hovering just outside the waiting room. “Benito, wait with her,” I order. “Goran, watch the doors. No one goes in or out.”

“Yes, sir.”

I head outside and call Del Barba. He picks up immediately, almost as if he’s been expecting my call. Knowing him, he probably has. “Colonna,” he says. “I hear you’ve been making the rounds. You know, I’m a little disappointed you haven’t visited Milan to warn me away from the Russians.

Antonio Moretti controls a wide swath of territory, as does Ciro Del Barba. The two men have come to an understanding. Both organizations are evenly matched, and it would be ruinous if they went to war. And so, we’re allies of a sort.

“I didn’t think I needed to.”

“You don’t. Unlike Verratti, I haven’t lost my mind. Why are you in my city?”

So much for flying under the radar.

“I’m visiting a friend in hospital. I’m quite anxious that nothing happens to him or his family.”

“You want them protected. I’m not sure I can do that.”

I grow cold. Is Milan enemy territory now? “Why not?”

“Because of the auction. I’m still quite irritated, you know. I really wanted that Spider, and you snatched it away from me.”

I exhale in relief. The ’54 Spider is a beautiful car, and I’ve wanted it for a very long time. But a man’s life hangs in the balance, and this is not a tough decision to make.

“The car you bid on was a wreck. It’s been painstakingly restored. I want five favors.”

“Three.”

“Done,” I say promptly. “Pleasure doing business with you.”

“Likewise. I’ll send my men around. Acerbi, his wife, and his child will be safe in Milan. I guarantee it.”

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