Chapter Twelve

Twelve hours later.

Pain from a needle penetrating my neck woke me up from whatever slumber I was in. A memory of Don Mauro holding a gun and heating me is the first image that comes to me.

It scares the hell out of me, sending my heartbeat into overdrive. Before I register more and work out what is happening, a liquid is being injected into my body. Tells me things have gone sideways.

My plan has got me into so much deep shit.

I want to open my eyes and my body, but I can’t move a muscle. What did they inject into my body? Am I dead? What have they done to me?

Then a conversation of men speaking loudly beside me in Italian brings me back to my reality and makes my body freeze, I know. I am still in deeper shit and in danger.

Several seconds later. I feel my body muscles move and the first thing I want to do is open my eyes. But I know opening my eyes is a risky move.

I guess one thing about keeping me alive is staying unconscious. So, I play along. And act unconscious. I don’