Page 247 of The Italian Obsession

Her face lights up when she sees me. “I didn’t know where you were.”

“I had to take a call.” I put my arm around her and lead her back up the stairs. “Come… back to bed.” I kiss her temple. “We have a doctor’s appointment in the morning, remember?”

She looks up at me with a beautiful smile. “How could I forget?”

OLIVIA

I roll over in the darkness. It’s late… or should I say early? With the shutters down, I have no idea. I hear a creak and I frown.

I know that creak.

That’s the creak of the bottom step. I sit up in bed.

Someone’s in the house.

Chapter 30

OLIVIA

I sit still in the darkness and listen. I glance over to Enrico, who is fast asleep beside me. He’s been restless all night and has only just drifted off.

Silence.

I slowly get up and tiptoe over to the door. I quietly close it and flick the lock.

My heart is hammering hard in my chest. I stand and listen. I hear another creak and I know that creak is near the top step. I run to Enrico. “Wake up.”

“Huh?”

“Someone’s in the house.”

“Huh?”

“I heard the step creak.”

He launches out of bed and grabs a gun from his top drawer. “Get dressed.” He quickly dials a number on his phone.

I look down to see I’m naked.

Shit.

I’m running into my wardrobe when I hear him whisper, “C’è qualcuno in casa.” Translation: Someone’s in the house.

He walks up behind me. “Go into the bathroom and lock the door. Do not come out,” he whispers.

“Yes, let’s go.” I grab my nightgown and run to the bathroom. He hands me a gun.

“Keep the door locked, and if anyone comes in here, don’t ask questions. You shoot to kill.”

“What? Where are you going?” I look down at the gun in my hand with wide eyes. It’s heavy, made of cold, black metal. It’s designed to take a life.

“I’ll be back in a minute.”

“What? No, you stay here, too,” I whisper. I grab his arm, suddenly frantic. “Stay here. Don’t you go out there. Please don’t go out there.”

He pushes me into the bathroom and closes the door. “Lock it,” he snaps angrily through the heavy wood.

My face scrunches up and tears fill my eyes as I flick the lock. I begin to pace. Oh my God, what is happening. I hear our bedroom door open and I hold my breath as I listen. My heart is hammering hard in my chest.