Page 292 of Marcello

I heard the gritting of shoes on stone behind me, and I knew I was about to get pistol-whipped –

When Dario held up one hand and yelled, “Adriano!”

The blow didn’t come.

Dario stepped towards me, his face a mixture of anger and confusion. “You’re telling me you knew nothing about Cesare and Lucrezia’s plans?”

“I knew we were supposed to kill YOU, but I didn’t know anything about the Russians until the very last minute!”

Dario’s voice filled with acid. “What about my wife?”

“I’m the one who saved her!”

Dario looked like he was about to rip my face off. “I’d hardly call that saving her.”

“Cesare was beating her to death – ”

Dario stepped forward menacingly. “Was that in the plan?”

“Cesare doesn’t plan shit! He’s a rabid dog. Lucrezia does all the planning, but even she wouldn’t stoop to that. I was the one who stopped Cesare – and when he was going to shoot her, I was the one who talked him down.”

“How?” Dario demanded.

“I told him you wouldn’t know who was behind it if she died. He had to leave her alive so she could tell you.” I realized how horrifying that sounded, so I hastily added, “If I hadn’t done that, he would’ve killed her.”

Dario looked conflicted –

But Adriano sneered, “So, what – we should give you a fuckin’ medal?”

“I nearly took a bullet for some woman I’d never seen before!” I snarled as I glanced over my shoulder. “What the fuck did you do?”

I felt Adriano’s gun jab the side of my head. “I tried to stop your Camorra buddies from massacring a bunch of civilians, you piece of shit.”

I turned all the way around and glared at him. “And did any of them put a gun in your face like you’re doing to me now?”

“They shot at me – ”

“From a distance, right? But did any of them put a gun in your face like YOU’RE DOING TO ME NOW?”

Adriano paused for a moment as he stared me down. Then he said, “Dario, let me teach this motherfucker some manners.”

“FUCK you,” I snarled.

“We’re getting off track,” Niccolo interrupted. “Why did you stop Cesare from killing Alessandra?”

I turned to face him. “Because I’m not a fucking monster, unlike YOU assholes!”

Niccolo smirked. “No, you just hang out with monsters and do their bidding – ”

“BECAUSE YOUR UNCLE THREATENED MY FAMILY, YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT! AND YOU WERE THERE!” I screamed as I pointed at Niccolo. “YOU WERE FUCKING THERE, AND YOU DID NOTHING!”

Niccolo looked queasy –

But I forgot all about him as a sudden realization hit me.

I looked at Dario in terror. “Are you… are you going to kill my family?”

Dario seemed bewildered. “What? No.”