Luciano glared at Romeo in the darkness. “…down the hallway… third door on the left.”
Romeo nodded, then hurried off to collect the sister.
“Take us to Don Amato’s room,” I said.
Luciano took us to a doorway at the very end of the hall.
I tried the doorknob. Locked.
“Tell them it’s you,” I whispered.
Luciano didn’t say anything.
“I can send Ciro after your sister, if you like,” I whispered. “And while he’s at it, he can tell Cicciobello to start shooting your kids.”
“Papa,” Luciano called out.
A muffled voice on the other side of the door called out in surprise, “Luciano?! What are you doing here?!”
“I came in late,” Luciano said. “The power’s gone out.”
There was no answer from the other side.
“Papa, can you open the door?” Luciano asked nervously.
No answer.
Don Amato wasn’t buying it.
Apparently he wasn’t as stupid as the rest of them.
“Amato,” I yelled, “I’ve got a gun at your son’s head. Open this fuckin’ door in the next ten seconds, or I blow his brains out.”
“W-what?!” Luciano whispered in terror.
In the bedroom, a woman’s voice cried out in terror. A man shushed her angrily.
Then it was silent again.
“Guess Daddy doesn’t care about you that much, huh?” I pulled Luciano to the right side of the doorway and nodded at Ciro. “Do it.”
Ciro pulled his shotgun off his shoulder,CLACKEDa round into the chamber, and fired at the doorknob.
BLAM!
I kept watch behind us for any foot soldiers who might come running.
BLAM!
BLAM!
When the wood around the knob was Swiss cheese, Ciro gave it a good hard kick.
WHAM!
As the door flew open, Ciro ducked over to the left side.
The shooting started immediately.
