Page 132 of Secrets of the Brother
It was their uniforms.
They were wearing red-striped, black trousers with a white cross-shoulder belt, but instead of the standard cap and gilded frieze, they were wearing dark blue berets and cap badges with blue neckerchiefs, and their boots were all wrong. It was like they were dressed in a mashup of the standard uniform and the operational uniform, usually worn only for public order and riot situations. And the fabric didn’t look right. Almost like a cheap knock-off. A costume.
A fucking costume.
I remembered what Benito told us about Longo’s investigation not being sanctioned.
This wasn’t an arrest raid.
It was a setup.
I grabbed the first guardsman near me. Twisting my hand into the front of his coat, I pulled back my arm and drove my fist into his face. “They aren’tArma dei Carabinieriofficers! It’s a setup!”
Cesare twisted his torso and drove his elbow up and back, breaking the nose of the man standing behind him. Blood gushed from his face as he screamed in agony. Cesare ducked as the next man threw a sweeping punch, throwing his arm wide. Cesare punched him in the kidneys before sweeping his leg. He then kicked him in the face, breaking the man’s jaw.
I called out, “Bianca, get behind me!”
I blocked her from view as I squared my feet and raised my fists.
The first man raised his Beretta 92FS pistol. Before he could even get off one shot, I grabbed his wrist, yanked him forward, and flipped him onto his back, breaking his wrist. I pulled the gun from his hand, turning it on him and firing. Killing him.
These were Agnello's men.
Sent by Nevio. I was sure of it.
This was a trap.
All bets were off.
I turned to check on Bianca.
She had a dazed look on her face, as if she wasn’t taking in what was happening.
I needed to get her to safety, but there was no way out of this room without first neutralizing the threat.
I grabbed her and tucked her to the side of the sideboard in the corner. “Stay right here, baby. Keep your head down.”
I turned over the leather chair Cesare had thankfully brought into the room and blocked everyone's view of her.
I then turned to face off with anyone who dared approach. I was forced to duck for cover myself as another of Agnello’s men opened fire. Hitting the floor with my shoulder, I returned fire, striking him square in the chest.
From the floor, I watched as Matteo took out another man with his bare hands, twisting the man’s neck like it was nothing more than a bottle cap.
I wasn’t surprised. Uncle Benedict was his father, after all.
Cesare was thrown against the wall as a bullet tore through his shoulder.
I called out his name.
He raised his injured arm and fired at the shooter. Killing the man. He called back, “It’s just a graze.”
Before I could respond, I was thrown forward as a heavy weight nearly knocked me to the floor. I shifted to the right and the weight rolled off me.
It was Bruno Moretti. His heavy body thudded to the floor. I kicked him onto his back. His sightless eyes stared back at me. Good riddance.
I looked up to see Papà standing a few feet away, gun drawn.
A hard look on his face. Under his other arm, he had a struggling Longo in a headlock.
