I ignored Lucia and said to Dario, “Lars is going with you. Rachel is staying here.”
Dario looked at me in alarm. “But – ”
I leaned in close and whispered, “In case Cesare decides to visit.”
Dario looked conflicted, but he nodded and turned back to Massimo. “Take her out to the car.”
As Massimo walked out with Alessandra, Dario moved to follow them –
But Lars stopped my brother with a hand on his shoulder.
“I’m walking out in front of you,” Lars said.
He intended to block a sniper’s shot.
It was a nice gesture, though a futile one…
Since there was no way of knowing where the bullet would come from, if it came at all.
“Massimo, take the Bugatti and go with them,” I called out. “Valentino, Roberto, you stay here with me.”
“The fuck I am!” Valentino snapped.
“That’s an order!” I yelled back.
Val looked enraged as Lars and Dario walked out the door –
But he stayed where he was.
I stayed inside the house with Rachel, Roberto, Valentino, and my remaining sisters-in-law.
Massimo gently put Alessandra in the back of a Mercedes…
Lars and Dario got in beside her…
Massimo got in the Bugatti…
And all seven cars took off for the main gate.
“What happened?” Bianca asked fearfully.
“She’s having premature contractions,” I said, avoiding any mention of preeclampsia, “so they’re taking her to the hospital.”
“Now?!” Lucia demanded. “With that fucking psychopath out there?!”
I stared Lucia dead in the eye. “Yes. Now. With that fucking psychopath out there.”
Everyone fell silent.
“Do whatever you need to prepare,” I said to Rachel. Then I threw my baby brother a bone. “Valentino, go help her.”
As I watched them run off down the hallway…
I felt even more helpless than the night Papa died.
96
Cesare
