Chapter 126
Niccolo
Inside The Tunnel
Valentino watched his Rolex like a hawk as I tried to dissuade him. Unfortunately, it was like trying to reason with a toddler.
“I was there when the Turk invaded our home,” Val said calmly. “And I was in the shootout with Mezzasalma in the restaurant.”
“You’ve been in gunfights, true, but this is something entirely different,” I said. “This is a fucking military battle.”
“Adriano, Massimo, and Lars went into battle on San Michele,” Valentino pointed out, though he never took his eyes off his watch. “They faced down a sniper and a bunch of mercenaries. So did a lot of brave men who laid down their lives for our family.”
Alright, so it wasn’t like reasoning with a toddler.
More like a very smart donkey who was stubborn as fuck.
I wanted to say, You’re a spoiled little rich kid who wants to play soldier –
But that wasn’t true, and I knew it.
Valentino had trained just as hard as any of our foot soldiers –
And he had made his bones several times over.
He was young and brave, and he wanted to fight.
I didn’t want to tell him the truth…
But I had to.
Because it was the only argument he might listen to.
“If you go out there… I’m afraid I’m going to lose you,” I said, my voice breaking.
Val glanced up from his watch for the first time since Rachel had left.
He looked surprised. Then he saw my face, and his expression softened. “I can’t ask Rachel and our guys to fight for me if I’m not willing to fight for myself.”
Shit.
What was I supposed to say to that?
Val glanced at his watch again.
“Three minutes are up,” he announced, then turned back to our foot soldiers. “Anybody who’s coming with me, grab a gun and let’s go.”
As the men slung bags of ammunition across their shoulders, Val turned to Caterina. Tears were streaming down her face.
“Don’t go,” she whispered.
“I have to,” he whispered back. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she sobbed, and they kissed.
I stood there feeling helpless –
And then, suddenly, Roberto gave Mei-ling a passionate kiss.
They’d been off by themselves, talking quietly. I hadn’t paid them any attention –
Until now.
Because Roberto was carrying an assault rifle, too.
“What the fuck are you doing?!” I asked as he walked past me.
“Val’s right,” Roberto said grimly, “and you know it.”
“You’re the accountant!” I shouted.
“Today I’ve got to be more,” he answered simply.
I glanced at Mei-ling.
She looked scared –
But she wasn’t trying to hold him back.
Valentino grinned and clapped Roberto’s shoulder proudly. They shared a silent look for a second –
And then Valentino led the charge up the steps.
Roberto and our foot soldiers followed him.
My stomach twisted in knots as I watched them go.
I glanced back at Sofia.
She looked conflicted…
But she was holding out a rifle to me.
“If you don’t go,” she said, “no matter what happens, you’ll always regret it.”
“I’m the consigliere,” I said, though I knew she was absolutely right.
She shrugged. “Today you’ve got to be more.”
I smiled ruefully, took the rifle –
Grabbed her around the waist –
And kissed her hard.
“Come back to me,” she whispered.
I wanted to say I will –
But I didn’t know that, and I didn’t want to lie.
So I just winked and said, “Ciao, bella.”
Then I ran up the steps after my brothers.