[A/N]: Thanks for reading! Feedback is always welcome!

Sorry for the delay, everyone. This week has been a little busy. Next week should be normal!

Chapter 54

It would be several months before Ezio heard from Bartolomeo again. Despite Antonio's assurances that everything would fall into place, Ezio was beginning to wonder if Silvio would die of natural causes before Ezio would get a chance to deal with him.

Antonio suspected that Bartolomeo was recruiting mercenaries to replace the ones that had been killed in the previous battle against Silvio's men. In addition, the new recruits would need time to train.

Meanwhile, Ezio made sure Rosa's cut healed without complications. She reluctantly agreed not to strain herself too much during the first few days after the incident, but Ezio knew it would be impossible to keep her off her feet.

The news that Bartolomeo was ready came from one of Antonio's couriers who had occasionally been checking on the mercenary leader. He had returned to the den one summer evening and spoken to Antonio, but had to wait until the next morning to speak to Ezio.

"Bartolomeo wishes to speak to you," was all he was able to say, but Ezio put on his robe and grabbed his weapons, hoping he would finally have the opportunity to use them against Silvio.

Bartolomeo was polishing Bianca and humming to himself (or perhaps to his weapon) when Ezio walked into his quarters. The mercenary leader turned at the sound of the door.

"Salute, Ezio! Welcome back! And well done! My host is restored to its former glory. Now Silvio will see just how grave a mistake he's made."

"Does this mean you and your men are ready to go after him?"

"HA!" Bartolomeo roared. "My men are ALWAYS ready for a fight. I've cleared a space on my shelf for Silvio's head."

"Bene. How should we proceed? A direct assault against the Arsenale?"

"No," the mercenary shook his head, "We'd be massacred at the gates. I have something else in mind. Take my men and plant them throughout the district. The trouble they cause will force Silvio to dispatch most of his guards-"

"And with the Arsenale drained of mercenaries, I can move in for the kill," Ezio interrupted, finally beginning to understand the plan.

"Esatto! You'll be virtually unopposed."

"I like it. We need every advantage we can get. Let's hope he takes the bait."

"Oh, don't worry. He will," Bartolomeo promised. "I've been fighting the coward long enough to be certain."

Ezio stepped outside and was joined a short while later by a couple dozen mercenaries.

"How is your lady friend, messere?" asked one of them. Ezio turned to see that it was one of the men who had fought off the guards that had wounded Rosa.

"She is well, thanks to you. I do not know how I can repay you for-"

"You rescued me and my friends. Now I hear you're going to kill the man responsible for putting us in those cages. You don't owe me anything."

Ezio nodded in appreciation, and the group set out. The men knew the district well, so Ezio scattered them in groups to the various places that they suggested were optimal for luring Silvio's men.

"Ah! There you are. Is it done?" Bartolomeo inquired when Ezio returned.

"Yes. All your men are in place."

"Bene, bene," Bartolomeo replied as he reached for a device on his desk and handed it to Ezio. "Take this. I assume you know how it works?"

Ezio nodded as he took it. Leonardo had once demonstrated how to use a similar device.

"Find the highest point you can in the district and fire it from there. This signals my men to begin the attack."

"Alright, then. I will see you on the battlefield," Ezio promised.

"That you will!"

The district was eerily quiet as Ezio made his way up the tallest tower in sight. He was reminded of the night he had found the corpses of Bartolomeo's men in similar silence. This time, he hoped, the silence would be replaced by cheers.

He fired the flare into the night sky.