Page 345 of Marcello

“Dario!” I yelled. “I know where Cesare is!”

The Don’s eyes flashed with anger. “Take me to him.”

“I’ll go with you – ” Adriano started.

“NO. Finish off the rest of the Camorra,” Dario commanded. “This is between Cesare and me.”

Adriano nodded reluctantly, and Dario followed me out into the hallway.

I led him to the door, and he opened it carefully. Inside were rough-hewn stone steps spiralling down.

“Come with me,” Dario said. “But Cesare is mine – you are not to interfere. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Let’s go,” he said, and led me down into the darkness.

133

Lars

First Floor of the Mansion

Ididn’t know what to think about what Lucia had done.

Part of me was horrified –

But part of me silently applauded her.

I didn’t have time to figure it out, though, because we had to find Dario and the others.

We raced back to the dining room. Once there, I looked through the windows to see if any Camorra outside were coming to help their buddies.

Apparently not. The giant metal gates to the compound were wide open, and there wasn’t a single thug anywhere.

I motioned for everyone to stay in the dining room as I peeked into the foyer.

“Dario – Adriano – Niccolo!” I called out.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” Lucia hissed behind me.

I glanced around to see one of the Widow’s men stuffing cash from the dining room table into his jacket.

Lucia was glaring at him like an angry schoolmarm. Without looking away from him, she reached out her hand –

And another foot soldier immediately handed her a pistol.

The guy stuffing his jacket paused. He looked like a deer in headlights…

Then he quickly started putting the money back on the table.

“Idiot,” Lucia muttered as she shook her head in disgust.

I heard Adriano’s voice. “Lars?”

I looked around the corner to see him at the top of the stairs.

“What happened?” I asked.