Page 118 of Niccolo (Mafia Kings #7)

At least we got to visit him in the ICU. We weren’t supposed to be there, but the Widow insisted.

Massimo looked absolutely ghastly – pale and gaunt, his face slack like a dead man.

Lucia burst into tears as soon as she saw him. She kissed him on the lips, then took up residence in a chair by his bed and continually held his giant hand in her two tiny ones.

Dario held Massimo’s other hand and whispered something in his ear. Alessandra and Bianca both cried and, one by one, kissed his cheek.

I murmured, “Come back to us, brother,” as I gently touched his shoulder.

The doctors told us to go home and get some rest – that there was nothing we could do for him by staying.

The only one who refused was Lucia. She demanded to be allowed to spend the night by his side.

The doctors weren’t happy about it –

But the frail old lady dressed in a 19 th -century lace dress had a way of getting what she wanted. And what she wanted was for her granddaughter to be happy – or at least less stressed.

“That would be fine,” the lead doctor agreed with a forced smile.

“You’ll call us if he wakes?” I asked Lucia as I handed her a card with my number on it.

“Abso-fucking-lutely,” she promised.

Ah – there was the Lucia I’d heard about!

If the stories about her were true, then it was odd to think of her as Massimo’s fiancée.

He was so laid back, while her legendary temper and penchant for profanity seemed more suited to Adriano.

But… opposites attract.

Or so they tell me, anyway.

The woman I wanted to be with was a perfect match for me in every way…

At least until I lost her forever.

All of us but Lucia returned to the Widow’s palazzo, where we had an excellent but subdued dinner.

Dario pulled me aside afterwards and asked, “Any word from Hong Kong?”

“No.”

He knew better than to remark on how alarming that was.

“Let me know as soon as there is,” he said quietly.

“I will.”

Then I went to my bedroom. There was a call I had to make that I’d been dreading.

I dialed Valentino’s cell – and was surprised when Don Vicari answered.

“What?” he asked brusquely.

Charming motherfucker.

“I’d like to speak to my brother,” I said.

“Why?”

I was not having it tonight.

“Because his brother Massimo nearly fucking died after being shot in a raid to save the Widow of Venice’s granddaughter,” I snarled. “Now may I please speak to my fucking brother?!”

There was a pause.

I didn’t know if Vicari was taken aback by my anger –

Or if he was about to unload on me.

A mere consigliere, daring to speak to a don that way!

FUCK him.

Bring it on, asshole.

He surprised me, though.

“He’s not here. There was some trouble in Ortigia. He’s on his way back now. I’ll have him call as soon as he gets in.”

“Thank you,” I said stiffly.

I expected some sort of terse reply –

But instead, all I got was a click! as Vicari hung up the phone.

“Fucking prick,” I muttered under my breath.

Between Massimo hovering between life and death, Roberto in God knows what kind of trouble in Hong Kong, and Valentino possibly calling any minute, I knew I wasn’t going to get any sleep.

So I read a book I found on the desk in my bedroom: a history of Italian political figures during the Renaissance. In particular, the Medicis in Florence and the Borgias in Rome.

Not exactly everyone’s cup of tea, but political intrigues were right up my alley.

It helped me keep my mind off of Massimo and Roberto…

And off of Sofia.

Aurelio was dead…

And I was afraid Fausto might have taken out his rage and grief on her.

I thought about texting her…

Just to check and see if she was okay…

But it felt like doing so would be a betrayal of Massimo.

After all, it was partly Sofia’s fault he had almost died.

I wasn’t angry at her for his present state.

I blamed Fausto and Aurelio for that.

But I still couldn’t bring myself to contact her while my brother hovered at the edge of life and death.

So I read about the clashes of long-ago families and how they had outsmarted their enemies…

And tried not to think of one particular enemy I would have given anything to make an ally.

I dozed fitfully, but every time I woke up, I checked for text messages.

Nothing from Roberto.

Around 1 AM, I got a call from Valentino’s phone.

“Hello?” I answered warily.

When Vicari spoke, it sounded like he was on speakerphone. “I’ve got him here. Hold on.”

Valentino’s voice was stressed. “Nic?”

He sounded like my little brother again, afraid and alone.

All my past resentments toward him disappeared, and I told him what had happened as gently as possible.

I covered the assault on San Michele and ended with Massimo’s surgery.

“The doctors said it was touch and go, but they think he’ll pull through.”

“…pull through?” Valentino repeated in disbelief.

“He was shot 17 times. Only three got through his body armor, but the ones that did were pretty bad.”

“But he’s going to be alright – isn’t he?” Valentino pleaded.

He sounded like he was five years old again, asking for reassurance his big brother would be okay.

I paused.

It was no good to sugarcoat it.

“I won’t lie to you, Val. I THINK so… but he has to make it through the night first.”

There was a long silence…

Then Valentino asked about Adriano, Lars, and our foot soldiers who had perished in the battle.

Once I’d finished, Valentino said, “I’m coming to Venice.”

I was just about to answer when Don Vicari beat me to the punch.

“No you’re not,” he said in the background.

“The fuck I’m not,” Valentino snarled.

Vicari sounded increasingly angrier. “You’re not leaving this house until after the wedding.”

“LOOK – ”

I knew it was no good for him to antagonize Vicari, so I stepped in.

“Valentino, listen to me – there’s nothing you can do here.

I’ll call you every hour if you want, I swear – but we NEED Don Vicari’s help right now.

Fausto is still out there, and I’m sure he’s lost his mind over what happened to Aurelio.

He’s not going to fight with the gloves on anymore, and it’s going to get ugly.

We need Don Vicari’s forces more than ever. Do you understand?”

“But – ”

“We’ll see you at the wedding – Massimo, too. It will all be fine, I promise.” I felt uneasy making promises about something even I wasn’t convinced would be okay. “But until then, do whatever Don Vicari tells you to. Do I make myself clear?”

“…yes,” he mumbled.

“Good.” I paused. “I understand there was some sort of… trouble earlier?”

“It’s fine,” he said sullenly.

“Then why wasn’t I able to reach you?”

“I’ll tell you at the wedding,” he sneered in an obvious attempt to piss me off.

My anger flared –

But the hour was late.

We were both worried about Massimo.

And of everyone I knew, Valentino had the most reason to hate me…

So I let it go.

“…fine. We’ll talk then.” Playing the diplomat, I said, “Don Vicari, thank you for protecting my brother.”

“Hmph,” Vicari grunted. “He has a habit of putting himself in harm’s way.”

“It’s an inherited trait in our family,” I said drily. “But both my brother Dario and I greatly appreciate your help with – ”

“Is Alessandra there?” Valentino interrupted rudely.

I’d overlooked his earlier snide remark, but he needed to remember I wasn’t just his brother – I was his don’s consigliere and his immediate superior.

“I was speaking with Don Vicari,” I snapped.

“Yeah, I heard,” he said brattily . “Is Alessandra there?”

“Yes, but – ”

“Put her on.”

“I don’t – ”

“PUT HER ON, NIC.”

I wanted to rip him a new asshole right then and there for daring to speak that way to me, especially in front of Vicari –

But the hour was late.

We were both worried about Massimo.

And I reminded myself of all the reasons Valentino had to hate me.

Let it go.

“Hold on, I have to go get her,” I said, then walked out of my bedroom and down the hall to Dario and Alessandra’s room.

I rapped lightly on the door.

“Who is it?” Dario’s muffled voice said.

So he wasn’t sleeping, either.

“Niccolo,” I answered.

“Come in.”

I walked in to find him sitting up in bed next to Alessandra. They appeared to have been talking.

“Is it Massimo?” Dario asked.

“No. Valentino wants to talk to Alessandra.”

My sister-in-law looked surprised –

But it wasn’t bewilderment, like Why me?

More like, Why is he calling me NOW?

Hm.

Interesting.

Alessandra got out of bed, pulled on a robe, and took the phone from me.

“Thank you,” she said and walked out of the room into the hall.

Dario waited a moment until she was gone, then asked me, “You still think there’s no chance Caterina has found Valentino?”

“I’d say we have more pressing matters at hand.”

“Touché. Any word from Roberto?”

I shook my head grimly.

For the next couple of minutes, we talked about what we would do if we didn’t hear from Roberto soon.

None of our options were good.

Finally, Alessandra returned and handed me the phone. “Thank you.”

“Anything to report?” I asked.

“No,” she said a little too quickly.

Bad poker face.

I knew a certain consigliere who could have given her some lessons…

But I just said goodnight and went back to my room.