Page 241 of Massimo

The good thing was that the wall would protect us from the sniper.

The bad thing was that Lars said this would be a perfect place for the mercenaries to show up.

He was right.

A man in black stepped into view 50 feet ahead of us and opened fire with his assault rifle.

My men dove behind trees lining the walkway while I crouched down behind my shield. The bullets went ping ping ping across the metal.

I don’t think the mercenary knew I had the car door when he stepped out to fire at us – and I don’t think he knew what it was, so he was confused.

A second later, he was dead.

I held out my Glock to the right side of the door and fired.

BLAM BLAM BLAM!

The mercenary jerked and went down.

“Got one,” I said as I stood up and started walking again.

“We keepin’ score?” Adriano joked.

“No, just celebrating the small wins.”

As I passed by the mercenary, I shot him in the head to make sure he stayed down.

Then I turned right down the pathway he’d emerged from. My men followed close behind me.

In the distance, I heard gunfire.

Brattatattatat!

Blam! Blam! Blam!

“Engaging,” Adriano said in a hushed voice over the earpiece.

Crack!

The shot echoed through the cemetery –

“Shit,” Adriano hissed. “He got Luca.”

102

Lucia

“Three for three,” Zollner said.

Clack-clack –

Clink.

Sweat was dripping down my face.

Please God, I prayed.

Please let Massimo be okay –