Page 357 of Marcello

“You also agree not to attack us on our way out of Naples,” I yelled.

“As long as you’re off this property in two hours, you have nothing to fear from us.”

“And,” I added, “we want the Amalfi Coast and Capri.”

Everyone – including Dario – looked at me in surprise.

I held up a hand. Just wait!

The deep-voiced gangster seemed just as perplexed as my brothers.

“What?!”

“The Amalfi Coast and Capri. You offered it to Lucrezia in exchange for killing Amato. Well, she killed Amato, but we killed her, so we want it – for our troubles.”

“What troubles?”

“As Don Rosolini mentioned, Cesare’s brutal attack on his wife and child. And because Lucrezia hired Russian mercenaries who destroyed our home in Tuscany.”

There was a long pause –

And then the gangster said, “No.”

“Oh, come on,” I cajoled him. “We both know the Amalfi Coast and Capri are worthless to you! Too many tourists you can’t risk scaring off, or you lose what little money the towns do bring in.”

I hoped that what Marcello had told us was accurate.

I continued my speech. “YOU’RE getting a fortress in the middle of Naples and the complete absence of the Cosa Nostra in your affairs, something you’ve wanted for decades – not to mention we killed one of your most troublesome competitors. His head’s there on the ground in front of you. All I’m asking for is a bunch of vacation spots you’ll never use anyway.”

“Why do YOU want them, then?”

I was about to answer when Dario beat me to it.

“For our troubles,” he snarled.

There was a long pause.

“…alright. You take control of the Amalfi Coast and Capri – and in return, you’re out of here within two hours, and you never return. I understand you can’t speak for Rome, Milan, and Sicily, but the rest of the Cosa Nostra will never again set foot in Naples. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” Dario growled.

“Then our business here is concluded.”

After that, hundreds of feet shuffled across the ground, and car doors slammed shut and engines started.

Within minutes, the compound outside was empty.

The Camorra were gone.

139

Romeo

Secret Passageway

Giulietta and I waited in the darkness of the secret passageway, trying to hear something – anything – that might reveal our fate.

“Should we try to leave?” Giulietta whispered.