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I realized there was an analogy that described the situation pretty well. In many ways, MI6 had been like the Oldanis, and I had been like Fumagalli when I went to Lake Como. MI6 knew they were risking a huge international incident by sending me, and that’s why they had to disavow me when I got caught.
I had gone to Lake Como to kill someone high up the food chain – someone protected by a hundred layers of security. Given that, then what the fuck was Fumagalli doing in Dario’s territory?
“…I understand,” I said grudgingly.
“Well, now that we’ve got Lars’s approval,” Niccolo said sarcastically, “we need to figure out who’s going to handle Fumagalli.”
“I will,” Adriano volunteered.
Dario shook his head. “He knows you. He’ll recognize your face from a dozen weddings over the years. He’ll see you coming a mile away.”
“That applies to all of us, then,” Niccolo said in exasperation.
“…not all of us.”
Dario looked over at me, and his brothers did the same.
I immediately realized what they were thinking.
“No,” I said.
“I wouldn’t ask you if it weren’t serious,” Dario said quietly.
“I said I would train your men, not be your assassin. Plus, you said I could say ‘no’ to any request you gave me. Remember?”
Dario looked at me silently for a long moment… then nodded, no reproach in his eyes. “That’s true. That was our deal.”
“This is bullshit – ” Adriano snarled, but Dario held up one hand. Adriano stopped talking immediately.
Dario peered into my eyes. “This needs to be done, though. Which of the men you’ve trained are up to the job?”
“Theoretically, they could all do it… but only a couple of them have ever shot anyone before. I’m afraid they would freeze when the time came.” I sighed. “This guy Fumagalli is their number one killer, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then I don’t think any of them should do it. They haven’t trained for it.”
A voice in my head said, YOU have, though.
“Send me,” Adriano implored Dario. “I can do it – I can pop the motherfucker!”
“That attitude right there is exactly why you shouldn’t do it,” I snapped. “You can’t go in hot on this – you need to be cold. In control.”
Adriano glared at me. “Says the guy who’s too afraid to do it.”
“Fuck you,” I said at the exact same instant Dario snapped, “Adriano!”
“What?!” Adriano complained, more to his older brother than to me. “He knows that by not doing this, we’re inviting the Oldanis to come kill us and take our territory! But you’re letting him tell you no!”
“It was an agreement Lars and I made in San Vittore,” Dario said coldly. “I will not allow you to question that agreement.”
Dario’s willingness to stand by me, no matter what, touched me deeply…
And I began to reconsider.
“Well, we still need a fuckin’ enforcer!” Adriano snarled. “I’m more than up to the task, so send me!”
“Dario,” I said quietly.
