Chapter 119
119
Weeks passed. I talked to Dario every few days when he called his family from prison, and his spirits remained high despite the dangers he faced.
Since his release was only a few months away, no one was planning to physically go see him. Dario was fine with that – he told me he wanted everybody training relentlessly. Then we could have one huge party to celebrate both his release and his brothers’ hard work.
As for the training, it only increased in intensity.
Like they say in basic training: The only easy day was yesterday.
I started them on target practice out in the olive orchards – pistols, assault rifles, and sniper rifles. I began instructing them in hand-to-hand combat like I’d taught Dario. And I kept up the physical conditioning and training them to work as a unit.
The men began to coalesce into a real team – especially the younger ones. The older ones were more half-hearted about it, but at least they were making strides.
The brothers in particular impressed me. They pushed themselves harder than the men who worked for them as though to provide a good example.
Leonardo noticed. The old man would come out and watch the training sometimes and nod approvingly. More than once, he told me in private, “You’re doing an amazing job, Lars. I’m so grateful Dario brought you to us. Thank you for everything you’re doing for our family p>
“Thank you for giving me the chance, sir p>
He would laugh, give me a hug, and pat my back.
For the first time in my life, I started to get the sense of what it would have been like to have a father.
When my first paycheck came through, I immediately reimbursed Gunnar for the 5000 euros he’d paid to my lawyer, plus another 5000 for all the collect phone calls over the years – and for just being there for me.
We talked occasionally on the phone, and he seemed really happy that I’d found a job – and a new home.
My heartache about Rachel began to slowly fade… or at least lessen in intensity. I only took an hour at night to fall asleep. She was the first thing I thought of when I woke every morning… but it wasn’t always with grief. Sometimes I even smiled as I imagined her lying beside me in bed.
But no matter what, I wore the ring around my neck everywhere I went.
I never took it off, and I never forgot the lesson I’d learned:
When you have the shot…
Take the shot.
Life had given me a second shot with Dario’s family.
I intended on taking it.
Then, without warning, tragedy struck.
It was around 10 o’clock at night. I’d been having a beer with Massimo, and now I was heading up to my room when I heard Adriano’s voice scream, “HELP! HELP US, PLEASE p>
It was coming from his father’s room.
I raced down the hallway as fast as I could. Adriano continued to scream, “PLEASE, SOMEONE HELP p>
I burst into the old man’s bedroom and found Adriano kneeling on the floor. Leonardo was cradled in his arms. A few feet away was a chair, an overturned tray, and a liquor glass and plate of food scattered across the rug.
The old man’s face was red, his eyes bulged, and veins stood out on his face.
Adriano looked up at me in panic, his eyes wide and helpless as a frightened child’s.
“I just – I just found him like this p>
“Give him to me,” I commanded as I got down on my knees.
I had emergency medical battlefield training, although it mostly revolved around wounds and bleeding, not what was happening here.
Adriano shifted his father over to my arms, and I lowered the old man gently to the floor and checked his pulse. It was elevated but not weak.
Leonardo looked up at me with imploring eyes, like he wanted to tell me something but couldn’t speak. Only a choking gasp escaped his throat.
Adriano was standing and tearing at his hair in anguish.
“Get Niccolo to call an ambulance,” I ordered. “I think he’s having a heart attack p>
Adriano nodded, slightly stunned – then bolted from the room, screaming, “NICCOLO! CALL AN AMBULANCE – PAPA’S HURT p>
“It’s going to be alright,” I said calmly to Leonardo.
He looked up at me with wide eyes. His hands clutched at my shirt – in pain or fear, I couldn’t say.
Massimo, Roberto, and Valentino rushed in, a look of horror on their faces as they crowded around their father.
“Papa p>
“Oh my God – ”
Niccolo and Adriano rushed in. Adriano was still frantic, but Niccolo had a calm, almost cold expression as he talked into his cell phone. “Yes, there’s a gate – it will be open by the time the ambulance gets here. I’ll be waiting for them at the front door to the house, but just in case, tell them it’s up the stairs and on the third floor to the left p>
“…Papa?” Adriano said, his voice no louder than a whisper.
Leonardo’s head tilted back and his eyes stared up at the ceiling, unseeing and unfocused.
“PAPA!” Adriano screamed.
Massimo had to hold his brother back. It took all his strength to do so.