Page 277 of Marcello

This is where the hero decides to bide his time.

“…alright,” I said wearily, then trudged towards the front door. “But if I fall asleep and crash the car, it’s on your head.”

“Don’t fall asleep, then,” Lucrezia sneered.

“Take some crystal meth – you’ll be sharp for hours,” Ciccio suggested cheerfully. “I got some in the car if you need any.”

“No, I’ll be alright,” I muttered, then closed the door behind me.

89

The stash house run was a fucking nightmare. Having to return to the castle after every pickup made it twenty times worse.

Not to mention I was exhausted. I started at nine o’clock at night; by ten, I had to stop at a café and slam a triple espresso just so I could stay awake.

The crystal meth Ciccio had mentioned was starting to look more and more attractive.

But the worst torture was that I knew Giulietta was in danger, and there was nothing I could do about it.

Every single time I returned to the castle with another bag full of money, I gave it to Ciccio and Lucrezia. They counted out the stained, wrinkled bills on the massive dining room table, sorting them into piles of fives, tens, twenties, fifties, and hundreds.

I tried once to slip upstairs to the secret passageway, but Lucrezia snapped, “What the fuck are you hanging around for? Get going!”

Besides the caffeine, the only thing that kept me awake was my terror for Giulietta.

I constantly saw her face in my mind’s eye – dirty, tear-streaked, pleading with me to save her.

“Hang on, baby,” I whispered as I willed myself to stay awake. “Just hang on.”

It was shortly after four in the morning when I got the call.

I had just walked out of the sixth stash house with a paper sack full of cash.

It was a shitty neighborhood, so I kept my hand on my gun and looked around furtively as I jogged to the SUV.

Just as I opened the door, my phone started buzzing.

Since I was carrying a bag full of money in my left hand, I holstered my gun and fished my cell out of my pocket with my right. I thought it might be Lucrezia or Cesare –

But the caller ID said ‘Uncle.’

FINALLY!

I hit ‘Accept’ and immediately snapped, “Why didn’t you call me sooner?!”

No answer.

I frowned. “Hello?”

Nothing.

I was starting to get a very bad feeling.

I immediately hung up –

Just as somebody stepped from behind the SUV and pointed a gun at my head.

That wasn’t what threw me, though.