Page 248 of The Italian Obsession

I wait… and I wait… and I wait. Eventually, I hear voices I recognize. Marley and Maso.

I hear Enrico say something from up the hall. I open the bathroom door and peer around the side of it. What’s happening out there?

“Libero,” someone yells. Translation: Clear.

The house is a hive of activity. There must be ten men inside, searching it. I can hear them walking through and banging around.

Enrico comes into the bedroom.

“Why do you have the door unlocked?” he barks.

My face crumbles, and his falls as he sees my tears and my shaking hand holding the heavy gun. I’m a nervous wreck.

“Olivia,” he says softly as he takes the gun from me and wraps me in his arms. “It’s okay, it’s okay.” He holds me against his chest. “What did you hear?”

“I heard the step creak.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, and I heard the top one creak a few moments later.” He frowns as he holds me tight.

“What’s going on?” Sergio asks as he comes into the room. “I was in the boat house and heard the commotion.”

We both turn toward him, surprised. “What are you doing here?” Enrico snaps.

“I was covering a shift for someone who called in sick.”

“Olivia heard something.”

Sergio’s eyes flick to me. “Did you see anyone?”

I shake my head. “No.”

“It’s impossible. Nobody could get in here. We have the place surrounded.”

“Just search the fucking house,” Enrico growls impatiently.

He storms out of the room on a mission.

The hairs on the back of my neck rise to attention.

For some sick reason, my gut instinct sets off an alarm bell. It was him. Sergio was in the fucking house. I can feel it. “Why do I think it was him who was in the house?” I whisper.

Enrico frowns down at me, as if surprised by my accusation. “Why would he be in the house?”

“You tell me,” I whisper angrily. “Why is he even here? Didn’t you tell him to leave last night? I don’t trust him at all.”

Enrico glares out the door after him, his jaw clenched, and I know that he’s suspicious, too.

The house is now abuzz with people. Every light is on as they go through and search the rooms one by one. Every now and then I hear someone call to give the all clear in the distance.

I wrap my dressing gown around me tightly. If someone did happen to get in here, they would never be found. This house is as big as a state library.

“I hate this fucking house, Rici,” I whisper. “It’s too big and I don’t feel safe here.” I wipe the terrified tears from my eyes. “There could be fifty people hiding in this house and we wouldn’t even know it.”

Enrico drags his hand down his face, his frustration clear.

“Let’s go to the Milan apartment,” I plead. “Let’s just get in the car and go now.”