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“No, they’ll break in eventually or force us out We can’t risk it,” Ricardo answers

“Here, here!” Mario beckons us to colances around tothe door

“Is Marcello with you?”

I shakeat my insides “They took him”

Mario’s face darkens, but he quickly recaptures himself “C’mon There’s a way out of here”

He guides us into the kitchenette and beyond, where there’s a door I thought led to a closet for supplies But when he opens it, he pushes a few cans out of the way and presses a button on the wall So clicks, and ers around thesome of the supplies, but he pays no attention to soes that fall off the shelves

“Inside,” he says, pointing at the s behind

Ricardo goes first, and I follow hihts the area, showing a long tunnel ahead

“This tunnel was built during the construction of the house as an eency exit in case we’d ever need it,” Mario explains “First time it’s been put to use”

First time? No wonder there are cobwebs everywhere

I try to ignore the spiders crawling around as we unshot noise behind us Even though it feels wrong to leave Marcello’s people behind, I know they want to defend their ho Marcello away

“Do you think they can get Marcello back?” I ask

“Do not worry about Marcello,” Mario says “He can handle himself”

“I know Molly and Frank They’ll chew him up and spit him out”

“Because he bites,” Mario says, chuckling “They’re no match for him They will find out sooner or later”

I sigh and accept what he says even though I don’t agree

I know Marcello is a tough her motherfucker now that I’ve seen hioing to let Marcello win Not to e for her crippled husband They’re probably going to torture him