Page 130 of Roberto

Then I hung up.

My nervousness got the best of me, and I began pacing back and forth.

My thoughts flitted from one thing to the next:

My brothers and Lars…

Mei-ling…

And my failure to get our family’s money back from the Syndicate.

I began to fret over what we would do –

How we would survive the next few months –

And then I reminded myself that Massimo, Adriano, and Lars might not survive the day.

Next to that, my worries about the money were self-serving and ego-driven.

There is nothing to cut through bullshit like the threat of losing your loved ones.

As my mother told me repeatedly before her death from cancer:

If you have problems that can be solved with money, Roberto, then you don’t have any REAL problems.

I didn’t agree with her at the time – but after she died, I finally understood her wisdom.

The threat of losing Massimo, Adriano, and Lars just confirmed it.

Suddenly, my phone rang.

I pulled it out, expecting the jet broker or perhaps Mei-ling –

And was surprised to see who was calling.

“Mr. Lau. Hello.”

“Mr. Rosolini.”

I assumed he was going to put me off again, so I asked in a weary voice, “Any news?”

“Yes, actually. Mr. Gota and Mr. Xi both arrived in Hong Kong earlier today. They’re eager to discuss your family’s funds. Can you meet us here at the Syndicate in one hour?”

My stomach felt like it dropped out of my body.

Finally – at the very last minute – I was within reach of my goal.

This meeting would be make-or-break.

My family’s entire future might depend on it.

That is, if my brothers and Lars survived the mission in Venice.

I glanced at the clock in my room.

3:37 PM.

“That would be – yes, I can definitely be there in an hour.”

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