Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95013 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95013 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
“I haven’t seen anything on the news that President Barsetti is dead, so that’s a good sign.”
“Maybe. Or maybe no one knows he’s dead.”
We walked out of the hospital together, Rocco doing his best to move normally, but his body was unresponsive. I slowed my walk so it was easier for him to keep up with me without overexerting himself.
We stayed in the lobby before we stepped out onto the street. “How do you feel about being bait?”
He winced from one of his cuts before he straightened. “Bait?”
“Sounds like he’s taking the heads of everyone who resists his ascension to the throne. Put yourself out there, he’ll come. I’ll handle the rest. We’ve got to move fast because it won’t take long for him to realize that I’m in the city. Cosa Nostra will be a dead giveaway. You think you can handle that?”
“If he gets his hands on me, you know I’m dead.”
“You know I won’t let that happen.”
He reached for me and clapped me on the shoulder. “I know, man.”
Rocco made some calls and figured out Darius was at the Pantheon—hanging traitors. I called Tommaso, and he picked us up as we headed across the city to the square famous for evening strolls and gatherings. I’d taken Aurelia to dinner there shortly after we’d moved in together.
We stopped a street over and prepared for the shoot-out. I strapped on a vest because I was going to do everything in my power to get back to Aurelia. Do everything I could to live to hold my baby. To be a father to a daughter so badass no man would ever be good enough for her.
“You got this?” I said to Rocco.
He nodded. “You know how he is, likes to play with his food first. He’ll drop his guard, and you’ll have your chance. How are you going to do it?”
“Gonna shoot him in the fucking head.”
“And that’s it?” he asked in surprise. “It’s your chance for vengeance. Your chance to make him suffer.” He didn’t share the rest of his thought, but I knew he was thinking of my brother . . . who’d died a horrible death.
“I’ve got to think about the living, not the dead. If I see the shot, I’m taking it.” I’d brought my scoped rifle and my automatic rifle, a strap over each shoulder, a bandolier of grenades around my hip. “Let’s move.”
Rocco turned to the few men he had left, and they armed themselves before they headed into the square of the Pantheon.
I took my position at the corner of the building and witnessed the mayhem myself. Hundreds of bodies hung from the top of the Pantheon, all dangling from nooses. The men I’d hanged had been criminals, but when I looked at the people above, men and women, I recognized senators and the mayor . . . and their wives.
Can’t wait to kill this son of a bitch.
I watched Darius grab someone by the shoulder and throw him hard across the street in front of the oldest complete monument standing in Rome.
My eyes narrowed when I recognized President Barsetti.
Darius descended upon him. “You’re a traitor to your country, denying the king of Italy his rightful place on the throne. Your emperor is gone, your people have turned on you, and you continue to fight me like you have a chance.”
President Barsetti said nothing as he looked up at Darius, stone faced.
I turned to Rocco. “Go now before he puts that noose around Barsetti’s neck.”
“Bend the fucking knee.” Darius took a step closer before he looked up at the bodies that hung above. “Or become bird food.”
President Barsetti didn’t have to resist, because Rocco fired his automatic rifle into the sky as he stepped into the square with his men. He’d limped and grimaced with me in the hospital, but now, he showed no signs of weakness, ready to draw Darius away from his men so I could take the shot. “You’re not a king, but a fucking terrorist. A plague on your own country and your own people.”
President Barsetti turned to see Rocco, then pulled himself away from Darius, taking the opportunity to get the fuck out of there.
Darius hesitated as he looked at Rocco, his eyes narrowing as he took a moment to understand who was dumb enough to provoke him. The recognition descended on his face, but not an ounce of fear. “Was just about to stop by the hospital and bring you flowers. Glad to see the surgery went well.” He seemed to completely have forgotten President Barsetti, who continued to crawl away until he got to his feet. But one of Darius’s men stopped him and shoved him back to the ground like the execution would still be taking place.
Darius took several steps into the middle of the square, staring Rocco down like some kind of minor distraction.