Chapter 86: Mafia Kings: Massimo: Chapter 87

I pulled off the road an hour after I left Padola and called from a gas station.

Lars had gotten home by then. Niccolo had apparently briefed him because he had a warning for me.

“I looked at a map of the island on the internet, and it’s not good. They’re going to be in the church – which means not only do we have to invade a fortress, but they’re going to have the high ground with the bell tower. If they have a good sniper, they can pick us off as we approach.”

“If Zollner stays after he delivers Lucia, they’re probably going to have an excellent sniper.”

“Great,” Lars said with a sigh. “This is going to be like storming the beaches at Normandy.”

“Yeah, but the Allies won on D-Day.”

“Yes… at the cost of 4400 men.”

“Cheer up,” I said with gallows humor. “We don’t have 4400 men, so it won’t be nearly that bad.”

Lars laughed bitterly, then took down my instructions for where to meet me.

As I got back in the car and started to drive again, I thought about what Lars had said.

If they have a good sniper, they can pick us off as we approach.

I had no doubt that Zollner was a good shot. The only reason he hadn’t killed me back in the woods was because he wanted me to bring my brothers to the slaughter.

This time, Zollner would be trying to kill me.

How could I possibly reach Lucia before I got shot?

As I pondered that question, the driver’s side door started rattling from the wind rushing over it.

I figured I must not have closed it properly, so I opened it up to slam it shut again –

And the instant I did, I got a burst of inspiration.

I immediately turned the car around, went back to the pay phone, and called Lars.

“Did something happen?” he asked in concern.

“Yeah. I got an idea.”

After I told him what I was thinking, he said, “That’s insane.”

Then he added, “Which is exactly why it might work…”