I watched as another one of my boys helped Romeo into a different vehicle –
And then we roared down the dirt road, a dozen black SUVs like bats out of hell.
97
Adriano
Iwas approaching Florence when I got the call from Niccolo.
I thought he just wanted an update, so I started talking as soon as I answered. “I talked to one of our guys on the payroll. The cops know they should be on the lookout for – ”
“I’m not calling about that,”Niccolo interrupted.
He sounded stressed, his voice clipped – completely unlike his normal self.
“What’s going on?” I asked in alarm.
“Dario had to take Alessandra to the hospital in Florence.”
“WHAT?!” I roared.
“Calm down. Lars is with her. I sent Massimo and 16 foot soldiers along, too, just in case.”
“Why the FUCK are they going to Florence NOW, of all fucking times?!”
“She’s got preeclampsia. Do you know what that is?”
“No fuckin’ clue.”
“It’s serious. Worst case, it can lead to death.”
I stared at the road in disbelief. “Why the fuck didn’t anyonetellme?!”
“Dario and Alessandra wanted to keep it quiet and not alarm anyone.”
“Well, THAT worked out real well, didn’t it?” I said sarcastically.
“Maybe they didn’t tell you because you’re a dick,”Niccolo shot back.
I wanted to rip his head off –
But he had a point.
Still, though –
“Fuck you. Why didn’t they go to San Luca?” I asked, and was immediately sorry I asked.
As soon as I said the wordsSan Luca,I pictured Papa lying in his hospital bed –
And the look on his face when the heartbeat monitor flatlined.
I immediately broke out into a cold sweat.
“I tried to get her to go there,”Niccolo said,“but her OB-GYN is – ”
“Never mind,” I cut him off. “Do they need me to meet them at the hospital?”
“No, but I wanted to keep you in the loop – just in case.”
