Page 3 of Roberto

After three minutes, I shut off the icy water, toweled myself dry, and shaved at the bathroom sink. After I applied a dab of cologne, I got dressed.

Silk boxers…

Dress slacks…

Socks…

Gucci loafers…

Armani dress shirt…

Hermès tie…

Vest…

Golden cufflinks…

Rolex.

I decided not to wear a jacket. I rarely did during the summertime unless I had a business meeting.

Then I walked down the hall to my private office and got to work.

I fired up my computer and ran reports on the family’s holdings…

Revenue from our various business dealings…

And our expenses.

Somany expenses…

I’d had to take off the previous day for Adriano’s wedding, so I decided to work through lunch and eat once I was done.

I was deeply engrossed in my work when I heard the gunshot.

4

There were two of them: a dullCRACK,followed by another a second later.

The noises were out of place that I looked up when I heard them.

I didn’t recognize them as gunshots at first…

Until I heard shouting downstairs and realized something wasverywrong.

A foot soldier named Raimondo burst into my office. “Sir, you have to come with me!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Someone tried to kill the don! I have to get you to the safe room!”

My heart froze in my chest. “Is Dario alright?!”

“He’s fine, he’s downstairs with the others – sir,please!”

Raimondo escorted me to the safe room on the first floor. It was a huge space with stone walls, no windows, and a steel door.

Dario held Alessandra in his arms as she trembled, and Adriano did the same with Bianca.

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