Page 106 of Niccolo (Mafia Kings #7)

I t turned out that not only was Lars in love with Rachel Bauer… they were engaged.

First Massimo – now Lars.

Apparently, there was something about leaving Tuscany that made the men in our household lose their fucking minds.

Engagement ring or no, I was unhappy with the Rachel situation, and I let that fact be known –

But there were more pressing matters to attend to.

One of the more interesting bits of news was that Rachel knew about Friedrich Zollner, the ‘professional’ Aurelio had hired.

Her assessment of his abilities was sobering.

Even more sobering were her and Lars’s reactions when they saw the maps of San Michele.

From what they said, it sounded like an assault on the island would be a shitshow.

Then Rachel offered to go along to help.

That was when I finally put my foot down.

“NO!” I shouted. “I swear to GOD, Dario, if you put the woman who tried to KILL you on the team to save Massimo, I will resign right here and now as your consigliere and never speak to you again! ”

“Niccolo – ”

“NO! The rest I can abide, but don’t test me!”

I wasn’t playacting, either.

I was fucking pissed.

Dario sighed heavily, then looked at Lars and Rachel. “I’m afraid I have to defer to him on this one.”

“FINALLY!” I shouted.

“I understand,” Rachel said.

“While Lars and Adriano are off on the mission,” Dario said to Rachel, “you’ll stay here with me and my wife.”

I know the son of a bitch was my don, but I swear to God, he’d said it just to irk me.

“Wait – WHAT?!” I yelled. “NO, that’s even WORSE!”

Dario smirked. “Be careful what you wish for, consigliere.”

Massimo called at 4:15 AM. He said he wanted everyone to meet him in a small town near Venice called Treporti. Then he and Lars hashed out the technical side of the attack.

Massimo hung up – then called back a few minutes later with a cockamamie idea about carrying around a bulletproof car door as a shield.

Lars thought it was insane but agreed it just might work.

After Massimo hung up the second time, Lars and Adriano sprang into action. They assembled the cars and men for the four-hour drive to Treporti.

I promised to have transportation available for them upon their arrival.

How the fuck I was going to find three speedboats for hire at 5 in the morning, I had no clue…

But I would figure it out.

I always did.

Lars and Adriano said their goodbyes…

And then they were gone.