Page 78 of Promise Maker

“Entra!” he bellows.

Rodrigo steps inside, blatant tension crumplinghis features. “Signor Martelli, a courier is at the gates.”

“Where’s the package?” Father asks, splaying hishands.

Rodrigo blows a sharp breath before saying, “It isfrom your cousin. I won’t let it inside.”

Father and I look at each other, appalled.

“Get the sensor,” he tells our longest workingguard.

We hasten to the front, spotting the nervouscourier outside the gates. Poor kid. He couldn’t be much older than eighteen.

“Open the box!” Father yells to him, and ourguards retreat further into the courtyard.

The young man shakes his head. “SignorFattoresays only open when you’re close. He says he’llkill me otherwise.”

“It’ll explode,” I mutter to my father.

He gestures for Rodrigo to approach with theexplosives and harmful chemical detector.

“What’s happening?” Mother sputters, comingoutside.

My stomach clenches when Solari appears shortlywith Francesca.

“All of you get back into the house,” Fatherorders.

“Is it a bomb?” Francesca questions.

“Abomb?” Solari yelps. She looks utterlyterrified. I’ll never tell her about the ones we’ve received over the years.

I pivot, watching Rodrigo swipe the handy sensorin front of the courier’s box. It doesn’t beep. Relaxing his shoulders, hepeers back at us and shakes his head.

“Perhaps a shooter is waiting for you to approachthe gates,” Francesca remarks. “Father, don’t go.”

He motions to the guards up top.

All four give him a clear signal.

“It is a message,” Father says. “Let’s see what’sin the box.”

I follow him to the gates, and Rodrigo opens itfor the young courier to enter.

His hands shake as he walks up to my father.

“Signor Martelli…Perfavore.”His voice hitches as he begs for mercy. “Tiscongiuro. Non hoparteinquesto.” Indeed, it is evident he has no part in this.

“Rilassare,” Father sayswith a wave of his hand. “Open the damn box.”

Nervously, the poor kid lifts the cover.

I clench my fists at the horrible sight ofSante’shead in a sealed plastic bag on ice. Mouth open.Both of his eyes gouged out.

“Ugh!” The courier drops the box, making the headroll on the ground.

The women scream and run inside.

“Cristo,” I grunt, annoyed with the kid.

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