The Italian Affair Read Online Free PDF Page B

exhaled again. ‘I do not. You’re wrong.’
    His hands dropped from her shoulders. ‘OK, prove it,’ he said, his eyes narrowing.
    She shoved her hair back from her face. ‘God damn you, Caruso. All right. But just don’t interfere in my life, do you understand?’
    Caruso didn’t answer. He smiled instead, a slow easy smile that quietly turned Gina’s stomach inside out.
    Whether she realized it or not, Caruso had just won the first round.
     
    The electronic security system in both apartments needed updating, Rick decided. It would take some time. But what the Rosselinis did have security wise seemed to be in working order. He’d also briefed the guards he’d recently hired to patrol the property, making sure they knew to report anything unusual or suspicious to him.
    A high stone wall surrounded most of the Rosselini estate. At the bottom of the garden there was a sheer drop of fifty feet to the road below. In his estimation, it was unlikely an intruder would enter from that side unless they had mountaineering gear. He had fleetingly thought about implementing electronic detection equipment but that would be a waste of time, since any bird or animal could set it off. Besides, Mr Rosselini didn’t want to lock up his property as if he was in a prison. Something to do with the Second World War when he’d been a child, he’d told Rick. He’d been locked up once before and would rather be dead than have it happen again. Rick could fully understand that.
    Gina interrupted his thoughts. ‘I’m going to the hospital. I want to be there when Maria wakes up.’
    ‘You only called them half an hour ago. The hospital said they would contact you if there was any change,’ he reminded her. ‘She’s still unconscious.’
    ‘I know, but I want to go.’
    ‘It’s safer if you stay here.’
    ‘I don’t care about myself.’
    Rick was tempted to argue but quickly decided if she had her mind set, the best thing he could do was go along with it for now. Hell, he’d do the same if it was his sister lying in hospital.
    ‘OK, if that’s what you want. We’ll go right now.’
    ‘We’ll take my car,’ Gina said, a faint smile touching her lips. ‘It’s faster.’
    He wasn’t going to object. He’d rather take her car any day since it would be easier. Rick tried to resist the temptation to put his foot down in the Ferrari Boxer. It certainly wasn’t every day he got to drive a car worth that much money. He enjoyed the sleek feel of the wheel beneath his hands and could almost swear the engine purred under his touch.
    When they reached the outskirts of town he slowed down considerably. Road works held up the traffic. When he glanced in his rear-view mirror a line of cars were queued up behind him. He frowned.
    ‘Do you know who’s driving the Nissan Skyline two cars behind us?’ he asked. ‘It’s been following us for a while.’ He tried to make out the driver sitting in the front seat but it was impossible due to the vehicles in between.
    Gina looked back over her shoulder. ‘No. I’ve no idea who it belongs too. Are you sure it’s following us?’
    He shrugged. ‘It’s probably nothing. All the same, we can’t be too careful.’ After a couple of minutes, he noticed the car turn off at the roundabout and head down another road. Perhaps he had been overcautious.
    When they reached the hospital, it was busy. Obviously visiting hours had created a flurry of activity. People were heading to the lifts carrying bunches of carnations and roses. There was a queue.
    ‘It will be quicker if we go up the stairs. That is, if you feel up to a walk?’ suggested Rick.
    Gina nodded, moving quickly, her heels clicking on the polished tiled floor. After climbing a flight of stairs, and walking along a long corridor, she was so absorbed in her own thoughts, she bumped into a heavily laden linen trolley as she turned around the corner.
    Rick put his hand on her arm. ‘Hey, slow down, will you? If you carry on at