Page 262 of Niccolo
“Yes. If I’d walked into MI6 with an assassin who’d tried to kill someone in the agency, and asked for all to be forgiven just because I vouched for him, MI6 would have shot the assassin and questioned my sanity. So I think you’re behaving rationally.”
“Bythatstandard, should I go ahead and shootyou?”I asked sweetly.
She smiled in amusement. “That wasn’t what I’d hoped you’d take away from that example.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t.”
Still, I am nothing if not a considerate host. I had the kitchen staff bring each of us a tray with breakfast.
She ate hungrily. We verbally jousted a bit, at which point I realized something:
Rachel might have met Sofia – and she might have witnessed the dynamic between her and Fausto. How my uncle treated her.
Rachel might just be able to provide some information about how I could turn Sofia against him.
“You know, I was curious about something,” I started –
When my cell rang.
I checked the screen.
The number was a contact of mine in Trieste, a boat dealer I trusted and had used before to hire out yachts. I’d dragged him out of bed 30 minutes ago to see if he could help with the speedboats.
I excused myself and went to the other side of the room to talk to him.
By the end of the call, I’d secured the boats in exchange for 50,000 euros a day – plus a promise to replace them if they were damaged.
I hope you come through with that 50 million euros, Roberto,I thought, then remembered I needed to call him.
Fuck it. We’d figure out how to pay the boat dealer back without the 50 mil. Roberto needed to come homenow.
I texted Adriano and Lars,The boats are on the way and will meet you in Treporti.
Then I walked back and sat down opposite Rachel, who was still eating.
I returned to my original plan to ask her about Fausto. “As I was saying – ”
“I’d like to make a point,” she interrupted.
“Which is?”
She held up both her hands.
No handcuffs – like a magic trick.
My life passed in front of my eyes.
FUCK – !
YOU FUCKING IDIOT, YOU TOOK YOUR EYES OFF HER!
I whipped my gun up level with her head, but she quickly cuffed herself back to the chair.
“Calm down. I wanted to demonstrate that Icouldhave killed you just now… but I didn’t. Because I truly appreciate Dario forgiving me, and because I bear no ill will towards him oranyof you. Lars obviously cares a great deal for you, your brother, and your entire family… and by extension, that means I’ll never hurtanyof you.”
Holy SHIT.
I had just made a deadly mistake.
