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The foot soldiers just froze.
I felt Rachel tense –
And I stepped in front of her, shielding her from Adriano.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” I snapped. “Hold on – ”
“GUARDS!” Niccolo screamed at the top of his lungs.
That jarred the foot soldiers out of their stupor, and they all pulled their guns and pointed them at Rachel.
“Niccolo!” I yelled angrily. “It’s not what you – ”
“STOP!” Dario suddenly roared.
The entire room went silent.
“False alarm, everyone,” Dario said calmly to the foot soldiers. “Please go to the foyer so we can talk in private.”
“DARIO!” Niccolo yelled in indignation. “She’s – ”
“I said,” Dario seethed, locking eyes with his consigliere, “false… alarm. Gentlemen… please go to the foyer.”
Niccolo looked outraged.
The foot soldiers glanced at each other in confusion, then holstered their pistols and shuffled out.
“Adriano,” Dario said quietly. “Put the gun away.”
Adriano looked confused, but he slipped the pistol back in his shoulder harness.
I noticed he kept his jacket open for easy access, though.
Dario smiled the tiniest bit. “Well. Lucky my wife is in bed already, or that would have nearly frightened her to death.”
Then he gestured at Rachel as though to ask, What’s going on?
I swallowed hard.
This was the moment I had been rehearsing on the plane.
I remembered what Adriano had told me:
Dario’s the don now. It’s different than it was before. I know you two were tight back in San Vittore – but this is like you and your buddy were both sergeants, and then suddenly your buddy got promoted to five-star general overnight.
I also remembered what Dario had said to me when I’d asked where the line was between our friendship and our business relationship.
It’s true, there’s a certain level of… decorum that has to be observed now that I’m head of the family. And I would appreciate it if you observe that decorum when others are present… but you are my friend. I might not be able to act as casually as I once did when we’re around others… not with the trappings that come with my new position… but you can always come to me privately and speak your mind. Always.
This wasn’t one of those private moments…
And so I erred on the side of caution.
I took Rachel’s hand behind my back… gave it a gentle squeeze… and began to talk.
“Don Rosolini, it’s true… this is the woman who tried to kill you. But I beg of you, hear me out before you decide.”
I felt Rachel’s hand clamp down on mine.
