Page 296 of Marcello

“Yes, Mama, I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”

Everything was most decidedly not fine, but things were a hell of a lot better than they’d been five minutes ago.

“Why haven’t you called?!”

“I’m sorry. There was a man Papa owed money to.” I looked at Dario uneasily. “A mafioso.”

Dario didn’t react.

“WHAT?!” my mother exclaimed.

“The man made me go to Naples and told me I could never call you, or he would hurt you, Gemma, and Edoardo.”

I didn’t want her to know how badly Fausto threatened to hurt them.

Mama burst into tears. “Oh my God…”

“But it’s over now,” I promised. “There’s no more danger – it’s over.”

“Are you coming home?!”

“Soon. Very soon, I promise.”

Niccolo made a gesture with his finger circling in the air. Wrap it up.

“I have to go, Mama. There’s one more thing I have to do, but I’ll see you soon.”

“Marcello, no, don’t go – ”

“I have to. Tell Gemma and Edoardo I love them. I’m sorry for everything that happened, but I’ll see you all soon. I love you.”

“Marcello – ”

“Goodbye, Mama.”

And I hung up.

Adriano took the phone back from me. It immediately buzzed in his hand. “She’s calling back.”

“Ignore it,” Niccolo ordered.

“Thank you,” I said earnestly to Dario.

He nodded somberly. “You’re welcome. But you were right when you told her there’s one more thing you have to do.”

“You want me to help you kill Cesare.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll do it, gladly – but I need something from you, too.”

“Money?” Niccolo asked contemptuously.

“I don’t give a fuck about money,” I snapped at him. “No – the woman I love is trapped in the Amatos’ castle, which is where Cesare and Lucrezia are. I need you to help me get her out alive.”

Dario frowned. “Are they holding her hostage?”

“No, she’s hiding in a secret passageway. They haven’t found her yet… I hope.”