Page 131 of Roberto

“Good. I can have Mr. Han pick you up, or you can take a town car from the hotel.”

“I’ll take a town car, thank you.”

“Excellent. We’ll see you in an hour.”

As soon as Lau hung up, I went to the closet and looked at my suitcase.

Take it with me, or not?

If the meeting didn’t go my way, the suitcase’s contents would be my only leverage.

But if Lau’s men searched the bag and found the gun, I would be screwed.

And if they found the C4…

Powerful Yakuza and triad bosses wouldn’t take kindly to my bringing plastic explosives to a meeting.

After a brief deliberation, I decided to leave the suitcase in my room.

If they refused to give me the money, I could figure out what to do when I returned to the hotel.

I’d been willing to leave Hong Kong without the funds…

So maybe it was best to just let it go.

I took a deep breath and repeated to myself silently,Everything will be fine.

As though receiving confirmation from the universe, my phone buzzed with a text.

Jet company just got the half mil in Bitcoin. You’re all set for 11 AM tomorrow at Hong Kong International, Hanger 32.

I smiled.

Everything will be just fine.

55

On the way to the meeting, I texted Niccolo.

About to meet with Lau and the other partners. Wish me luck.

He texted back the Italian phrase,In culo alla balena.

Which literally translates as,In the ass of the whale.

It’s an Italian way of saying ‘good luck’ – similar to ‘break a leg.’

I smiled and texted back the traditional reply:

Speriamo non caghi.

Which meansI hope it doesn’t shit.

We Italians love our dark humor.

Then I texted,Anything from Venice?

Not yet. I’ll let you know.

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