Page 17 of Roberto

“Wonderful! If you’ll just point me in the right direction, I’ll be out of your hair.”

“We can drive you to a helicopter charter,” Han said as he pointed at the limo. It wasn’t a friendly offer so much as a statement of fact.

“No need. After the long flight, I feel like stretching my legs. Where do I go?”

“Follow the road to the main terminal,” Han said, pointing outside the hangar. “You’ll see plenty of advertisements in English.”

“Thank you.” My brother turned to me and smiled. “Give me a call after your meeting. Maybe we can meet up later.”

“Alright,” I said.

Niccolo turned and walked out of the hangar, pulling his wheeled suitcase behind him as he whistled a jaunty tune.

Han gestured towards the limo. “Shall we?”

“Let’s.”

11

Hong Kong’s airport was on a separate island from the city. Twisting roads from the terminal eventually merged onto a large highway. In the distance loomed green mountains with clouds obscuring their peaks.

The highway continued across a massive suspension bridge over the bay. We drove through verdant hills, passed through a miles-long tunnel, and crossed another suspension bridge. Onlythendid the massive skyline of Hong Kong appear in the distance.

I sat across from Han in the back of the limo and watched the scenery go by.

My companion was silent for most of the way, but he began to ask questions the closer we got to the city.

“What brings you to Hong Kong, Mr. Rosolini?”

“Business.”

“Your arrival was unexpected.”

“It was last-minute business,” I said, and tried to shut down his questions with some of my own. “I’m curious – how are you connected to Mr. Lau?”

“I am an employee of the Hong Kong Gaming Syndicate.”

That was the official name of the investment group that currently held my family’s 50 million euros.

“What’s your title?” I asked.

“Manager.”

“Of what?”

“Just ‘Manager.’”

The look in his eyes suggested it could possibly be ‘Manager of Disposing of Problems, Including Dead Bodies.’

I made a mental note to tread lightly around Mr. Han.

12

Once we reached the heart of the city, the limousine pulled into underground parking beneath a massive skyscraper. Han and I took an elevator to the lobby, which was decorated in cream colors and filled with bustling crowds of people. From there, Han guided me to a private elevator that carried us rapidly to the 70thfloor.

We entered another lobby with a magnificent view of the harbor. Han didn’t even acknowledge the young female receptionist as she buzzed us through the glass doors. I smiled at her politely; she bowed her head without smiling back.

We made our way to a massive corner office with a closed door and a secretary out front – a severe-looking woman in her 50s.

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