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“Because Lars trusts her,” Dario said, “and I trust Lars.”
I was almost overcome with emotion when he said that.
I don’t think I’d ever received a higher compliment in my entire life.
“Oh – so people can try to KILL you now, and it’s FINE!” Niccolo shouted.
Suddenly, Dario’s voice became ice-cold. “Calm yourself, consigliere.”
Niccolo clenched his jaw so hard I thought his teeth might shatter, but he kept quiet.
Then Dario turned to me.
“Thank you, Don Rosolini,” I said quietly.
The smile he gave me was almost wistful. “You have honored me, my friend.”
And then he reached out and hugged me.
I hugged him back fiercely.
When he pulled away, he was still smiling. “Our agreement still stands. As long as you are here with me, you will always be able to say ‘no.’”
My eyes misted up.
I had been willing to trade away everything I had to save Rachel’s life…
But in the end, Dario had given his forgiveness for free.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“Not at all,” he said. Then he turned to Rachel. “So – I assume you will be staying here with us?”
“I – ” Rachel said, her mouth dropping open in shock. She looked at me, then back at Dario. “…I can do that?”
“NO!” Niccolo shouted.
“Yes,” Dario told Rachel, then looked at Niccolo with a mischievous smile. “You know what they say, consigliere: keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.”
“And your attempted assassins closest of all, apparently!” Niccolo fumed.
Dario turned back to me and Rachel and shook his head. “You’ll have to excuse my brother, he – ”
He stopped talking as he looked down and caught sight of something.
“Wait – are you two engaged?!”
Dario took Rachel’s hand and held it up to see the ring.
“Yes,” Rachel said shyly.
Dario turned to me and laughed joyfully. “I fucking TOLD you! Remember?! I said, ‘If it was meant to be, it would work out – ’”
Niccolo had reached the end of his rope.
“We don’t have TIME for this!” he roared. “Massimo is in danger, and you’re discussing engagement rings!”
Dario glanced back at Niccolo in irritation but then immediately became serious.
