Page 336 of Marcello

122

Lars

Courtyard

Lucia was the next-to-the-last out.

One foot soldier was behind her, just in case she needed help getting up the rope –

But she didn’t. She reached the top of the well all on her own, at which point Massimo scooped her up and set her on the ground.

“Thanks, baby,” she said. “Alright, let’s go.”

“We’re staying here,” I said.

Lucia made a face. “Fuck THAT noise.”

“I’m not taking you in there to get shot at.”

“Well, you can stay out here, but I’m going in to help Dario.”

I looked at Massimo for support.

“What, you think I can stop her?” he said.

Lucia grinned and winked at her husband, then turned and headed for the house. Massimo jogged ahead of her to take point.

The Widow’s foot soldiers followed Lucia and Massimo.

Followed.

Not ‘went ahead to protect’ –

Followed, like a bunch of useless dumbasses. My suspicions had been correct.

I sprinted ahead of Lucia and Massimo. “Everybody – behind ME.”

“So glad you decided to join us!” Lucia said in a fake-happy voice.

I wanted to cuss her out, but I had more important things on my mind –

Like not letting her die.

123

Giorgio

Inside The Mansion

At the end of one last parlor was the foyer.

Adriano put a hand up, and we all stopped short of the doorway.

The gunfire was much louder now – somewhere up on the second or third floor.

On the other side of the foyer, a woman yelled, “Get up there, you idiots!”

A fat guy and two other thugs ran into the foyer through a door on the opposite side.