Page 359 of Lars

We’d discussed this in the planning stage. There was no way I was going to risk infiltrating the property and then suddenly have my phone start buzzing with a text to abort the mission.

I sent the text and waited.

Ten seconds, later I got a one-word reply:

Proceed.

After that, I texted Sean: Going dark.

He immediately texted back, Good luck.

I put my phone into airplane mode and stowed it inside my vest.

Once I got out of the car, I threw the rope ladder up onto the stone wall several times until the sharp grappling hooks snagged hold. Then I climbed up, my sniper rifle strapped to my back.

I hoped that Rosolini hadn’t placed surveillance cameras nearby, or it was going to be a very short mission.

I took the grappling hook ladder with me as I jumped to the ground on the other side, rolling to absorb the shock of my fall.

Then I waited.

If a camera had seen me, someone would show up fairly soon.

No one did.

After 30 minutes, I started to move… very carefully.

I was looking for cameras.

I spotted two. I avoided the areas they covered and waited again.

No one showed up.

I started to move again.

The slow pace would have been maddening to the average person… but I knew it was far better to take my time and avoid a gunfight.

The morning was hot enough to make me sweat under my bodysuit and bulletproof helmet, but I ignored it. I’d endured discomfort a hundred times worse on previous missions for MI6.

By noon, I reached the olive groves –

When I heard voices.

I immediately found cover in a thicket of bushes and drew my suppressed Glock.

As my heart pounded in my chest, I listened carefully –

A man and a woman.

They were laughing and carrying a picnic basket.

They passed by me 30 feet away.

Through the foliage, I caught sight of the man.

Not Dario Rosolini…

But he definitely looked like he was related. Maybe a brother.

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