Page 124 of Promised to the Don of Naples

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"Did you eat?"

"Yes, cornetto."

She made that face of hers with the cane resting against her knee.

"Signora."

"Sì, nonna."

"I'm going back to Capri."

I swallowed hard. Madonna, I thought. She's noticing something in me. And she won't tell me.

"When?"

"Soon."

"Va bene, nonna."

It was a crash first.

Not a gunshot, a car hitting something. A loud metallic sound, coming from the north ramp. Then, a second later, the first shots.

"Madonna!" Donna Beatrice screamed. "Signora, get down!"

The nonna took a step back. The corner of the mahogany table hit her temple, and she fell to her knees, blood on her forehead.

"Nonna!"

I pulled her under the baby grand piano. The shots came through the glass of the music room, white splinters on the marble floor.

"Stay, nonna."

"Sì."

Luca appeared in the doorway, running. White shirt, pistol in hand, two soldiers behind him.

"Bella mia! The service exit!"

"The nonna's hurt!"

"Donna Beatrice will take care of her! Vieni!"

I kissed her forehead with the blood still running and came out from under the piano.

Tonio appeared through the kitchen door with a pistol in his hand.

"Signora, come!"

I ran after him, Luca behind me. Donna Beatrice stayed with the nonna.

We crossed the kitchen. Some pots were broken, a pan on the floor, the window glass shattered.

Tonio opened the pantry door, but the door opened onto two men coming in from the other side.

"Cazzo!" Tonio shouted.

He turned, put his body between me and the two men.

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