Page 101 of Niccolo (Mafia Kings #7)

T he next day was when the rollercoaster truly began.

LARS

I hastily answered. “Where have you BEEN?!”

“…WHAT?!”

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you when I see you. Is Dario okay?”

“Yes, he’s fine – although…” I gathered up my courage and said the words I feared the most. “We’re afraid we might have lost Massimo.”

I filled him in on the situation. Despite the dire details, Lars refused to believe my brother was dead.

“No. Massimo’s a tough motherfucker – he’s fine.”

I asked about the assassin Lars had gone to London to chase down, but he seemed oddly cagey about it.

“I’ll tell you all about it when I get there. But I can’t really talk right now, if you get my drift.”

I told him briefly about Roberto and Valentino, then asked when was the earliest he could be home.

He assured me he could fly into Florence and arrive at the house by 2AM.

“I’m glad you’re alright,” I said. “It’s good to hear from you – we were afraid something had happened.”

“Thanks. And don’t worry about Massimo – he’s going to come through. I know it.”

As we hung up, I didn’t allow myself to believe him.

I was afraid I would be crushed when we found out the truth.

But Lars was right.

Just two hours later, I got a call from an unknown number in Padola –

The last number Massimo had called me from.

When I answered, I kept silent. It was protocol in case of entrapment by law enforcement – but my heart was in my throat the entire time…

Until I heard Massimo’s deep voice say, “It’s me, and things are outstanding.”

Relief flooded my body. Not just to hear him, but because ‘outstanding’ was code that he was physically unhurt and not under any duress.

“Thank GOD!” I cried out. “We were worried you were dead!”

“I came close three weeks ago when we ran into some of Aurelio’s men. Lucia actually saved my life.”

“REALLY.”

Apparently, the Widow’s granddaughter had the same steel spine as her grandmother.

Massimo filled me in on a few more things, and then we got down to the details of how we could bring him home.

I told him Lars had been away but would be back soon.

“As soon as Lars gets home, I’ll send him to retrieve you. Plan on 6 PM. Call me again from this number shortly before 6, and I’ll confirm where he should pick you up.”

Massimo asked if I could send someone else immediately –

But if the shit hit the fan, I wanted Lars there to deal with it. “If we’re going to extract you from enemy territory, I’d rather use the guy who did it for a living.”

Massimo agreed, and then we discussed Venice and the Widow. He wanted to let the old lady know that her granddaughter was fine.

“I’ll get word to the Widow,” I promised. “Don’t worry about that.”

At the end, I said, “I’m sorry you’ve been stranded out there, brother.”

“Not a problem,” Massimo said in his usual, affable manner.

Three weeks stranded out in the woods, and not an irritated bone in his body.

“It’ll be good to have you back home safe and sound,” I said with a huge smile.

“Amen.”

“Alright… 6 PM tomorrow.”

“Talk to you shortly before then. Give everyone my regards.”

“Will do.”

All was right with the world!

Both Lars and Massimo were safe and on their way home!

I called the Widow first and relayed Massimo’s message. I had never heard the old lady that emotional before in my entire life. She begged me to thank Massimo when I talked to him, and I agreed.

Then I texted Lars.

You were right! Massimo is fine.

He has the Widow’s granddaughter and they’re both safe.

We’ll need you to go pick them up tomorrow.

Will give you the details when you get here.

Things were finally looking up!

I tried to call Roberto to let him know Massimo and Lars were okay, but he didn’t answer, so I left a message.

“Call me,” I said giddily. “I have good news.”

I probably should have known something was up when I didn’t hear from him… but I was too overjoyed about Massimo and Lars’s homecoming to worry.

Bad mistake on my part.