Page 281 of Marcello
Lucia stifled a laugh.
Niccolo flushed with anger, but he bit his tongue.
“You understand how dangerous this is, Donna Fioretti?” Dario said.
“I do.”
“I do not believe for an instant that this is your idea.”
There was a long pause.
“…it’s not. But my granddaughter is right about another thing: if she is to take my place, she will have to prove she deserves it. And this is an excellent opportunity to start.”
“I can’t guarantee her safety if she goes with us.”
“I understand.”
“In the heat of the battle, I cannot endanger my own men to protect her.”
“Which is why twenty of my men are coming to Florence,” the old lady said frostily.
Dario sighed. “Is there any way I can talk you out of this?”
Now she sounded amused. “Only if you can talk my granddaughter out of it first.”
“I think it would be folly to try.”
“I always knew you would make a wise Don.”
Dario harrumphed. “Well… then I thank you for your support in our time of need.”
“You are very welcome. Good luck, Don Rosolini – and may you send the bastard straight to Hell.”
“I intend to make him suffer greatly before I do.”
“Spoken like a man after my own heart. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to speak to my granddaughter.”
“Here she is.” Dario handed over the phone as he glared at Lucia once again.
Rather than act smug at getting her way, Lucia nodded gravely and mouthed Thank you.
Dario just watched as she walked down the hallway and spoke to her grandmother.
“We can’t take her along,” Niccolo snarled. “She’ll be a goddamn liability.”
“Watch it,” Massimo warned.
“Well, she will!”
Dario looked thoughtful.
“…I’m not so sure. At any rate, the Widow understands we can’t be held responsible for her safety.” He turned to Massimo. “You’re on board with this?”
“No,” the big man grumbled. “But it’s Lucia we’re talking about. Nothing I say or do is going to keep her from doing what she wants, short of tying her up and throwing her in a closet.”
“See?!” Niccolo joked. “The perfect solution!”
“Enough,” Dario said. “Time to move on to other matters. Rachel.”
