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Ihave Ricci trapped in a hallway, and infuriatingly, I can’t simply shoot him. I wouldn’t normally be bothered by collateral damage, but Lucia is a bit too valuable—especially now that I know her fatherdoeswant her back. This attack is ridiculously flashy for just a rescue, and my guess is that the deal with Pavone really does hinge on Lucia.
Or, I suppose, Bellini could genuinely be concerned for his daughter. For some reason, that strikes me as unrealistic.
“We’re at a stalemate here,” Ricci responds. “You have to come out of cover to shoot me, and I’m sure I’m a much better shot than you are.”
“D-don’t shoot! Please! I don’t want to get hit.” Lucia’s begging sounds… a bit off. Not as genuine. But I’d listened as she led Ricci down the hallway, and I’m proud of her for derailing him, for getting him into this vulnerable situation.
Unfortunately, Ricci is correct that he’s probably the better shot between the two of us. If the communications weren’t still down, I’d text Angelo to get over here and handle all of this.
“Please,” Lucia goes on, her voice a pathetic wail. I’m not even sure I heard it that pitiful when she was in the box, which is saying something. “Don’t kill me. Al, you have to shoot him. Please, you have to get him before he gets me.” She sobs, and I can hear movement. I have no line of sight to them, though, so I can’t see what she’s doing.
It all registers as fake, though. I’ve come to know Lucia, and this… doesn’t sound like her. What is she up to?
I hear sobbing, but the direction has changed slightly. There’s the sound of moving cloth, then the sound of crying gets muffled.
“Get up,” Ricci hisses.
That means Lucia is on the floor—and, possibly, Ricci isn’t. They were at the end of the hall when I’d last seen them, and I don’t think they’ve moved much since then.
This might be my only opportunity.
I peer over the side of the wall, gun ready. Ricci notices me, but I’ve pulled the trigger before he can lift his gun. The gunshot echoes loudly down here, followed by Ricci’s pained yelp.
I’ve ducked back against the wall, so I can’t tell the extent of the damage. I hope I hit a vital organ, but Ricci looked like he was wearing some protective gear. If my bullet didn’t hit actual flesh…
I’m surprised when I hear Ricci shouting again. “What the fuck are you doing?”
Then the thud of feet running. Lucia runs past me, Ricci’s gun in hand. I don’t need another invitation.
I shoot down the hall two more times, catching Ricci’s thigh with one bullet. He falls to his knees, clutching the leg and heaving in pain. Blood spurts out.
Good thing there’s no carpet down here.
I slowly walk down the hall now and pause several feet away from him. Watching him writhe in agony, he doesn’t look like a notorious assassin. He’s just a man like every other. I don’t normally dirty my hands myself, but for Ricci, I’ll make an exception.
“Corvi—” Ricci starts, but his words are interrupted by another gunshot. The bullet hole in his temple sprays blood. Ricci’s mouth is still open as he drops to the floor, dead.
I stare at the body, surprised—because I haven’t pulled the trigger yet.
The shot came from behind me. I slowly turn around, only to face Lucia.
There are no traces of the hysteria she was playing at before, only strong resolve in her shooting stance. “Put down the gun,” she tells me. Her own stays trained on me.
This is an interesting turn of events.
I lower my gun, but I don’t let go of it, and assess the situation.
Out of everybody currently in the mansion, Lucia has the most reasons to want me dead. The slight tremble in her arm is unlikely to affect her aim. I’m at the same disadvantage I had Ricci earlier: trapped in the hallway. I could attempt to retreat into the bathroom, but the walls are plywood and the door not much stronger. They won’t stop a bullet.
“Where will you go after you shoot me?” I ask her calmly. “Angelo is still in the house. And Santino—”
“Santino is unconscious, or dead,” she says flatly, only the slightest catch to her voice letting me in on the fact that she cares either way. “He isn’t coming to your rescue, and Angelo isn’t here. Put down the gun, or Iwillshoot you.”
The fact that she’s talking to me at all means she has doubts. She doesn’t want to shoot me. If I raise my gun now, I might be able to pull the trigger before she does.
But, to my chagrin, I realize that I don’t particularly want to shoot her either. Santino and Angelo would never forgive me, and the past month will have been for nothing.
“Very well. I’m going to place it on the floor.” I slowly lower myself so I can gently put the gun down. Her eyes never leave me, and she keeps her aim on me.
