Page 81 of Once Upon a Time in Venice

Gina gratefully sank back against the pillows, before sitting up once again. ‘But what about your wedding?’

‘Don’t you worry about that either,’ Olivia admonished her. ‘You’re safe and on the mend, that’s all that matters. Max and I insist on postponing it until you’re up and about again.’

Gina closed her eyes, feeling utterly drained, as she tried to process everything she’d just been told. Her mind was beginning to drift, the lure of sleep too tempting, when there was a knock at the door and her eyes flew open.

‘Come in,’ Olivia called.

Detective Gallo strode into the room, his expression grave. Gina wanted to hide beneath her sheets, as everything came rushing back. On the machine that monitored her pulse, the numbers were increasing rapidly.

‘Ah, Inspector,’ Olivia beamed, seeming delighted to see him. ‘Look, she’s awake!’

‘I’m glad to hear it,’ he said neutrally.

‘Gina, this is Detective Gallo, the clever policeman who’s figuring it all out,’ Olivia explained.

‘I see,’ Gina swallowed.

‘Yes. I don’t believe we’ve met, though I’ve heard so much about you,’ Detective Gallo said coolly, not taking his eyes off her, as though she might jump out of bed and run from the room if he wasn’t paying attention.

Gina said nothing, not knowing how to respond. She wondered how much he knew, and whether Lucia had been well enough to tell him anything. It felt as though the walls of the tiny room were closing in on her, and she longed to drift back into unconsciousness where Detective Gallo couldn’t reach her.

‘I’m pleased you’re feeling better,’ he continued, with an inscrutable expression. ‘When you’re up to it, I have a few questions for you, Maria Monti.’

Chapter 36

Issy raced down the corridor to the Presidential Suite.

‘Great news,’ she said breathlessly, her cheeks flushed with exertion. ‘I’ve just heard – Gina’s awake.’

‘Iz, that’s awesome,’ Brad exclaimed. He threw back his head and exhaled in relief. Issy knew he would have been feeling guilty, blaming himself, reflecting that the accident would never have happened if it weren’t for the movie.

She stood uncertainly for a moment, her fingers sliding over the small white envelope in her hands. ‘Could I come in for a moment?’

‘Sure,’ Brad said, standing aside to let her past. She followed him into the lounge, sensing that something was different but unable to put her finger on what. Then she realized: there were no high-heeled shoes lined up by the door, or dresses casually strewn over the armchair; no designer handbags discarded on the sofa or make-up littering the dining table.

‘Is Lexi here?’ she asked carefully.

‘No, she … she’s gone back to LA.’

Issy absorbed the news, a mixture of emotions running through her: relief that Lexi had gone; fury that she’d abandoned Brad when he was dealing with the fallout from the accident; fear that she might have revealed Issy’s secrets. Issy studied Brad’s face carefully, looking for signs of anger or disappointment, but all she saw was his usual handsome face with its bright blue eyes and soft, full lips. She was really going to miss him.

‘Is everything OK, Iz?’ he asked, noticing how she was staring at him.

‘No, not really.’ Issy held the envelope out to him.

‘What’s this?’

‘It’s my resignation.’

Brad’s face twisted in confusion and he shook his head. ‘No, you can’t … What’s going on?’

Issy bit her lip, willing herself not to cry, but determined to say what she intended to.

‘Come on, let’s sit down and talk about this.’ Brad touched her arm lightly and led her to one of the oversized cream sofas. His kindness almost made it worse, and Issy couldn’t help but recall how they’d sat here just a few nights ago, eating junk food and watching old movies. Now everything had changed.

‘I can’t work for you any more. I’ve done things I shouldn’t have done, and you deserve better.’

Her lip trembled, and her voice shook, she knew that after her confessions he would never want to see her again.