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back in Montepulciano.
    â€˜I’m not sure why you’re telling me this,’ she said.
    â€˜Because you need to know. You’ve gotten mixed up with the Tomasi family and I don’t think you have any idea who you’re dealing with.’
    So he knew the name of the man who had sent her here. Hayley turned that fact over in her mind for a moment or so. What proof did she really have that Alvaro Tomasi was the detective he had claimed to be? She tried to remember if she had ever seen a badge. Not that seeing a badge would have made much difference; she had no idea what a real one looked like.
    Was Ethan right? Could she have been getting herself into danger even as she thought she was helping her father get out of it?
    â€˜Tell me about the Tomasi family,’ she said.
    Ethan cleared his throat and looked down at his fingernails. It was obvious to Hayley that he did not know where to begin.
    After a long moment, he said, ‘My wife was Erica Tomasi. She died because she could not escape the family business. Our daughter is the only grandchild. And now that they have lost Erica, they want Katy instead.’
    â€˜The family business?’ Hayley asked. ‘What is that?’
    Ethan didn’t need to clear his throat this time. ‘They are mobsters,’ he said, simply.

Chapter Three
    Where the hell was Hayley doing? She had leaped to her feet almost before Ethan was aware of it, and was halfway down the hall before he could catch up with her.
    As much as he wanted to reach out and slam it closed before she could flee, Ethan knew that imprisoning her here was no way to convince her that he was not the enemy.
    â€˜Hayley, wait,’ he said instead.
    She turned, but only half way. ‘Yes?’
    â€˜You forgot your camera.’
    As her hand closed over the case she made a faint noise, like she was swallowing.
    â€˜Thanks,’ she said. ‘And thanks for the Chianti.’
    â€˜You’ll think about what I said?’ Ethan pressed. ‘And you’ll keep away from the Tomasi family?’
    â€˜I’ll think about what you said.’
    But from the way she dropped her eyes, Ethan could tell she was being evasive.
    â€˜You won’t keep away from the Tomasis?’ he asked.
    â€˜I’ll take care to keep out of trouble.’
    She hadn’t understood what he was saying. Ethan clenched his fist in frustration.
    â€˜You can’t keep out of trouble if you have anything to do with the Tomasis,’ he said.
    â€˜Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?’
    â€˜I’ve told you enough for you to know—’
    â€˜All right. Well, thanks.’
    â€˜Where are you going?’
    She looked puzzled. ‘Back to my scooter. Unless… You aren’t about to agree to those photos after all, are you?’
    What? How could she still be talking about photos, after what he had told her?
    But Ethan had no reason to keep her here, and no reason why he should want to. He didn’t know this woman, Ethan told himself. She had trespassed on his land, and tried to take information back to the Tomasi family, information that would surely be used against him. What were they up to?
    So why did he feel somehow as though he had to look after her? All he had to do here was look after himself, and make sure Alvaro Tomasi remained uncertain about where Katy was for long enough for Ethan to work out what to do next. She had been ripped from school to school ever since Erica died. The poor girl desperately needed a sense of permanence. He was determined that she be able to finish at least one year’s normal education at the school he had found for her.
    Hayley was going to leave, then. She wanted to go, and he didn’t really have a choice or a reason to make her stay.
    He held the door open and stood back and watched as Hayley walked the long distance of his drive. She was so small and vulnerable out there in the hugeness of the