Page 96 of Dark Breaker

It’s Massimo.

“Ready to surrender?” I taunt.

“Got Nicolo with me,” Massimo taunts. “How does it feel to lose a brother?”

“I don’t believe you,” I tell him.

“Talk!” I hear Massimo command someone.

“Sorry, Fabio,” Nicolo says.

Fuck.

My brother. My dear brother.

I’m filled with rage and despair in equal measures.

“So what’s the next move?” Massimo asks.

“You touch my brother, you’re dead,” I reply.

“Then I guess I’m dead.” He hangs up.

Furious, I signal for the men to follow me, then retreat to the stairwell. We’re careful to move from pillar to pillar in case the Morettis have snipers watching our floor.

We reach the stairwell and take the steps two at a time until we reach the first floor.

I find Nicolo on his knees before Massimo, who holds a pistol to his head. The other men with Nicolo are lying on the floor with their hands folded behind their heads; they’re watched by more rifle-totting Moretti men.

Nicolo is looking at me apologetically.

Nicolo… don’t be sorry. This is my fault. Mine. I’m the one who should be sorry.

At least he’s still alive. Maybe I can save him. Kill Massimo before the fucker fires.

No. That’s pretty much impossible.

I’m fucked.

“Drop it,” Massimo orders.

I hesitate. I have no choice. I can’t let my brother die.

I slide the strap off my shoulder and drop my rifle. I nod at my men and they do likewise.

“So what now?” I ask. “You kill us? End this alliance cleanly?” It’s a small consolation that I didn’t bring all my men: my father will use the survivors to hunt down the Morettis and Amatos from prison. He will avenge my death, and Nicolo’s.

I have a couple of regrets. The first, that I dragged my brother into this. The second, that I never got to say a proper good-bye to Rosa, or to ask for her forgiveness. She deserved both, at least.

“Where is she?” Massimo asks.

“Where’s who?” I reply.

“Fucking Rosa, who else?” Massimo growls.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I tell him.

“You took her this morning,” he says. “Kidnapped her from campus. I want her back.”