Page 282 of Marcello

“Yes, sir,” she answered.

“Once again, I need to ask you to stay behind and look after my wife – and now my daughter, as well.”

“I could be a lot more useful to you in Naples.”

“I agree, but Alessandra and Elena’s safety matters to me more than my own. We’ll take half our remaining foot soldiers to Naples, so I need either you or Lars here with the ones who remain. I know Lars will refuse to leave my side, so I have to ask you to guard my wife and child.”

Rachel nodded. “I’ll protect them with my life.”

“Thank you.”

“What about me?” Sofia asked. “Am I coming to Naples?”

“NO,” Niccolo snapped.

She gave him a cool look. “If Lucia’s going – ”

“You see?” Niccolo said to Dario. “THIS is how it starts!”

“I need you here with Rachel to guard my wife and child,” Dario said to Sofia. “If the Camorra do come back, I need you to be three steps ahead of them.”

Sofia nodded. “Alright.”

Dario turned to Niccolo. “How soon can Alessandra and Elena be moved to a more secure location?”

Niccolo shook his head. “The doctors insist they stay here. Elena needs the NICU, and Alessandra shouldn’t be moved so soon after surgery.”

“Couldn’t the police use them to try to get to me?”

“If they do, I’ll make sure every newspaper in Italy is plastered with ‘Cops take advantage of battered woman and premature infant.’”

Dario’s eyes flared with anger.

“Sorry to be so blunt,” Niccolo said, “but that will be the message our lawyers spread if the cops try anything.”

Dario turned to Roberto. “What do you think?”

“The police are angry with us, yes,” Roberto said, “but they also know which side their bread is buttered on. As long as we leave Florence, I think they’ll leave Alessandra and Elena alone.”

“What about the hospital?”

“They’re getting a new wing out of this,” Roberto said drily. “They’ll play ball.”

“Several of their employees were viciously murdered,” Dario pointed out.

“By the Camorra. Management knows we didn’t go looking for a fight.”

“The families of the dead might see it differently.”

“Yes, and we’ll compensate them for their suffering – but only if they sign an NDA.”

“You think they’ll agree to that?”

“People die every day from negligence or accidents. Their families either get nothing, or spend years in court trying to squeeze a few pennies out of the system. On the other hand, if the families agree to our terms, they’ll immediately get a check for millions of euros.”

“You’ve already arranged it?” Dario asked in surprise.

“Our lawyers have already contacted the families, and the funds are in place.”