Page 116 of Niccolo (Mafia Kings #7)

Niccolo

D ario and I returned to the parlor. I didn’t give a shit anymore that Rachel was alone with both of us; I trusted her now.

“Lars,” Dario said out loud to let him know we were there.

“Did Niccolo fill you in?”

“Yes. How bad is Massimo?”

“He got shot multiple times. He had a bulletproof vest on, but a few got through. He’d lost a lot of blood by the time we got him on the chopper.”

“And Adriano?”

“He got shot, too, but his vest stopped them all. He broke a few more ribs, but he’ll be fine.”

“Alright,” Dario said, his face dark. “We’re coming to you. Hopefully, we’ll be there within three hours.”

“Um… I’m not entirely sure that’s a good idea…”

“How many of the mercenaries did you and the others kill?”

“Dozens.”

“And Massimo killed Aurelio?”

“Yes.”

“Then you’ve broken the back of their operation. It’s as safe as it’s going to be for the immediate future.”

“But – ”

“Tell me the truth,” Dario interrupted. “What are the odds Massimo survives?”

There was a long pause.

“…50-50. Maybe.”

“I didn’t get to say goodbye to my father when he died, which you well know,” Dario said. “There’s no way in hell I’m risking that with my brother.”

“I understand. But what does Niccolo think?”

I was impressed that Lars would say that, even if it was purely out of politeness.

“This is the one time where I agree that the need outweighs the risk,” I replied. “We have to be there. No exceptions.”

“Alright – I’ll make sure it’s as safe for you as possible.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“Could I ask you a favor?”

Dario smiled. “She’s coming with us.”

Rachel looked up at him, incredulous.

“Thank you,” Lars said.

“Do you need to tell her anything else before I hang up?” Dario asked.

“I love you, ?lskling.”

I was guessing it was a Swedish term of endearment because Rachel’s eyes welled up with tears. “I love you, too.”

“See you soon.” Lars’s voice changed to a respectful tone as he said, “Thank you, Don Rosolini.”

“The very least I could do, my friend. See you soon.”

Dario hung up the phone and handed it to me – then saw the handcuffs sitting on the breakfast tray opposite Rachel.

“Did he really keep you handcuffed to the chair?!” Dario asked her as he gave me an indignant look.

“He was just being cautious,” Rachel said diplomatically.

I knew there was a reason I liked her.

“Not like she couldn’t get out of them in five seconds anyway,” I snorted as I turned to Rachel and unlocked the cuffs. “Before we go, I want your word on something.”

“What?” she asked.

“That you won’t hurt me, Dario, his wife Alessandra, or my sister-in-law Bianca.”

“Niccolo,” Dario chided.

“No, I want her to swear.”

I figured if I trusted Sofia’s oath, then I was honor-bound to extend the courtesy to Rachel, as well.

After all, both women had tried to kill us…

And only Rachel had apologized.

That was a joke.

…sort of.

“I swear I won’t hurt any of you,” she said earnestly.

I shook my head. “Not good enough.”

Dario explained, “In the Cosa Nostra, we swear on the things most holy to us. The things that we would rather die than have taken from us if we tell a lie.”

She got a look on her face like Ah – I understand. “I swear on the life of the man I love.”Dario and I exchanged looks.

As far as oaths go, that was a pretty fucking good one.

“Good enough for me,” I said.