When to move. During the document verification, when Viktor's attention was divided.
I watched Cesare work, saw the brilliant strategic mind that had made him Don at twenty-eight.
But I also saw the fear underneath. For his brother. For me. For the baby he now knew existed.
Late afternoon, Cesare pulled me aside. We were alone in his office, away from the team.
"I need you to promise me something," he said.
"What?"
"When we go to meet Viktor—and yes, you're coming, I know you'll insist—I need you to stay back. Behind me. Protected."
"Cesare—"
"You're pregnant, Paola. Carrying my child. Our child. I can't risk both of you."
"I know. I'll be careful."
"Not careful. Safe. If anything happens, if shooting starts or anything goes wrong—you run. You don't wait for me. You don't try to help. You run and you protect our baby."
The intensity in his eyes was almost frightening.
"Promise me."
"I promise."
He pulled me close, hand splaying across my still-flat stomach. "I can't lose you. Either of you."
"You won't. We're going to get Piero back, neutralize Viktor, and raise this baby in a world where we're not constantly fighting for survival."
"That's optimistic."
"Someone has to be."
Cesare made the call at 5 p.m.—nineteen hours into Viktor's twenty-four-hour deadline. He put it on speaker so the team could hear.
Viktor answered immediately. "Cesare. I was beginning to think you'd choose pride over family."
"I'm choosing my brother. You want fifty percent? Fine. We'll make the exchange."
"Smart man. I knew you'd see reason eventually."
"I want proof Piero is alive. Right now."
A pause. Then shuffling sounds. Piero's voice, rough but recognizable: "Cesare, don't—"
Cut off. Viktor again: "Satisfied?"
"He sounds hurt."
"Minor persuasion. Nothing permanent. Yet."
Cesare's jaw clenched, but his voice stayed level. "When and where?"
"Tomorrow morning. 9 a.m. Pier 76 in Red Hook. You bring the signed transfer documents for the agreed-upon territory. I bring Piero. We make the exchange."
"How do I know you'll actually release him?"
