Page 35 of Happily Ever After
So this guy here is Mafia, and Molinaro's only surviving heir? If that villain's blood is running in this guy's veins, God help us all.
"What makes you believe what you're looking for is here?" Ade asks, "De Marco had properties around the world. Why here?"
"Because I was told it is here."
"By whom?" I ask.
Who would have known about the box in the cave? Because it is the only thing he could be talking about.
Who had that information? And who would give it away?
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Niccolo shakes his head. "Now I can't give away my sources, can I? Let's just say I have no reason to doubt it. Now my question to you is, have you found a box of some sort here on this island?"
For the second time in a matter of minutes, my heart stutters in my chest.
Fuck!He's after the papers we found yesterday.
What are the odds of someone turning up wanting what we found not even a day after?
Ade's face is unreadable, giving nothing away when I glance up at him for guidance. But Niccolo doesn't miss it and that infuriating smile is back.
"Ah, I see you know what I'm talking about. You found it."
It's not a question, but a statement. I'm doubly curious now to know what those papers mean.
As much as I don't want him to take over what Tiero's family built, I'm inclined to give it to Niccolo just to get rid of him. Really, do we have any other choice? I should tell him it's at the bottom of the mud bath!
But will he be true to his word and leave once he has it? Or will he kill us anyway, pleased to have no witnesses? Nobody would find our bodies here for a long time, or perhaps he'll feed us to the sharks. All of these options make my stomach drop.
"Now, shall we proceed to the main house? I believe there are two more wedding guests to join our little party. And if I had to guess, what I seek is exactly there, isn't it? So let's go." Niccolo gestures like a Maître-D to the quad bikes sitting at the edge of the helipad.
Rhia, Lex… how does he know about them?
Fuck, fuck, fuck.Now we're putting them in danger too.
Oh God, oh God, oh God.
What are we going to do?
Chapter Fourteen
Ella
Niccolo studies the two quad bikes Ade and I arrived on, his gaze shifting between his men and us. His face is alight with mirth. Exaggeratedly, he rubs his chin back and forth with his index finger. Then he puckers his lips into an overstated pout.
This guy has a flair for the dramatic; he should go into theater.
I'm tempted to suggest a career change if being a criminal overlord doesn't work out, but I keep my mouth shut.
Think before you act,I remind myself.The guy is waving a gun.
As I watch him pretending to mull over the problem of numbers in his head, I'm again struck by Niccolo Romero's arrogant self-conviction.
Every step is self-assured, every gesture speaks of the ease of knowing exactly who he is. It's enviable, really. If only he used it to do good in the world.
The thought startles me. Wasn't that exactly what I once thought of Tiero?
Niccolo's voice pulls me out of that memory.
