The Italian Affair (2 page)

The nurse spoke calmly. ‘She’s already been taken to theatre. Come through to the waiting area. The doctor will be with you as soon as he can.’

‘My grandparents. Are they here? I have to find them,’ added Gina urgently.

‘They’re waiting for you.’

Gina followed. As soon as she walked in, it suddenly hit her how old her grandparents looked. Maybe she had just been so wrapped up with her own life these past few months, she had never noticed.

Her grandmother lapsed into Italian as soon as she saw Gina. ‘
Non
capisco
…
ma perché
… why did this happen to our Maria … our
bambina
? She didn’t deserve this … no … no … it is so terrible.’
She dabbed at her eyes with her embroidered handkerchief.

Gina put her arms around her grandmother. ‘Nonna, shh now … she’s going to be fine.’

Gina glanced at her grandfather standing there, in front of them, tight-lipped. At eighty years old, he was still a big man towering over everyone. Well known for his determined streak, whether in business or personally, he also had a true Latin temperament. Gina was used to it although it had resulted in both of them being at loggerheads at times. Her grandmother, Rosa, had often told her she was more like him than she realized and that’s why they always fought.

‘Nonno,’ said Gina gently, meeting his gaze. He slipped his arm around her shoulders, but said nothing.

The nurse came back into the room. ‘You may have a long wait. She’s in surgery now. The doctors are doing their best.’ The nurse’s face was sympathetic but professional. ‘Can I get you something to drink … a hot cup of tea, perhaps?’

Gina nodded. ‘Yes, please.’ She guided her distressed grandmother over to the nearest chair. ‘Just rest there, Nonna. I’ll give the nurse a hand with the tea.’

Rick stopped her at the doorway. ‘Gina, I’m going back to the hotel to see what’s happening. The police will have cordoned the area off and will be asking questions. I’d like to be around when they do.’

She nodded. ‘Thanks for what you did to help back there. And also for the lift.’

Rick flashed a brief but strained smile. ‘It was the least I could do.’

Gina’s throat tightened, but she couldn’t afford to cry. She had to see to her grandmother first. Be strong for her. Her heart heavy, she followed the nurse down the hallway to the kitchen.

Rick hovered. He needed to speak to Anthony. He saw him sitting there, a dazed expression on his face. ‘Are you all right, mate?’ asked Rick.

Anthony didn’t answer but inclined his head, distress etched across his face. He cleared his throat before he spoke. ‘I don’t know. Any minute I think I’m going to wake up and find this didn’t really happen. If I lose Maria, I…. I….’ He closed his eyes, then opened them as if he was having difficulty seeing. ‘Why would someone want to shoot her? She’s done nothing to hurt anyone.’

‘I don’t know.’ Rick shook his head, his expression thoughtful. ‘But it’s one hell of a thing to happen on your wedding day.’

Gina didn’t know if Maria would live or die. The bullet had been removed from her chest and she was in intensive care.

The surgeon said, ‘Your sister is critical but stable.’ He advised Gina and her grandparents to go home and rest and he would be in contact if her condition changed. But Gina wasn’t ready to leave. She wanted to stay a little while longer to be with her sister. Eventually though, she had to admit there was nothing else she could do and decided to return home. The nurse called a cab for her. It was waiting when she walked out of the hospital.

As she sat there, flashes of the wedding reeled before her eyes. She put her hands to her face as if she could shut the images out. It didn’t work. She could almost hear the sound of the shot as the bullet had slammed into Maria’s chest.

Taking a deep breath, she focused on the journey home. The cab drove through the wrought-iron gates and up the driveway, pulling up outside her apartment. Situated in an area nicknamed Millionaire’s Row, the double-storey apartment overlooked the harbour of Nelson. Millionaire’s Row wasn’t a name Gina particularly liked. It sounded snobbish. And that was something she was not. All through her life she had never been comfortable with her family’s wealth though she was honest enough to admit it enabled her to buy the things she loved like a piece of art, or clothes from a designer boutique. She’d always maintained that spending
money locally was money well spent, simply because it would benefit others somewhere down the line.

She got out of the cab and paid her fare adding a generous tip.

‘Thanks, ma’am,’ said the driver appreciatively.

She forced a smile then walked towards the building. Gina lived in the apartment below and, until recently, shared it with Maria while their grandparents lived above them. Each apartment had its own entrance and was completely separate. It was a suitable arrangement enabling her and Maria to be independent and, at the same time, they could respect their grandparents’ privacy. It also gave them a sense of family unity knowing each other was only a moment away if needed.

Living at Millionaire’s Row had its benefits, Gina had decided long ago. It was also safe; a haven from the turmoil in her life the past three years.

Gina started to go down the stone steps. A motion-sensitive security light at the corner of the building flashed on. Shadows jumped out in front of her; dancing silhouettes from the branches of the kowhai tree as it swayed in the sea breeze. A morepork hooted suddenly, making her jump. By the time she got to the last step, there were tight ripples of tension in her neck.

She slid the key into the door and stepped inside. The chiming clock struck midnight as she closed the door behind her. ‘Sanctuary at last’, she murmured gratefully, kicking off her high-heeled shoes.

In the living room, she switched on the lamp. An amber glow spilled into the room easing her sense of aloneness. She caught a glance of herself in the Venetian gold-framed mirror hanging above the mantel. Her face looked so pale, her eyes haunted. She felt so exhausted and drained. No wonder, she thought. She still couldn’t believe what had happened to her sister.

Gina looked at the cream, linen-covered sofa and wanted to curl up into it and close her eyes, but she had a feeling sleep wouldn’t come easy. On the glass coffee table, several books were scattered; a mixture of romantic novels she’d bought a couple of weeks ago
from a local fair but hadn’t had time to read. Maria had taken one of the books intending to read it on her honeymoon. Gina could remember them both sitting on the sofa a few nights ago, drinking a glass of white wine together. She had teased Maria saying, ‘You won’t get time to read. You’ll be too busy having fun with your husband.’

Maria had laughed. ‘You think so? I bet Anthony will take some work with him. You know what he’s like.’

A pang shot through Gina at the sound of Maria’s voice echoing in her mind. Maria had to make it. She just had to. Tomorrow she’d go to church to pray for her.

With a heartfelt sigh, she made her way to the French windows to close the striped burgundy curtains. Since a child she’d had a fear of the windows at night time. They made her feel vulnerable, as if someone could be watching her but she couldn’t see them.

Just to reassure herself that no one was there, a habit she had never been able to rid herself of, she glanced through the window. No figure loomed up. Instead, under the moonlight, she could see Tahunanui beach; a long stretch of golden sand curving like a
half-horseshoe
. White surf lapped onto the shore in a rhythmic sound like the soft beat of a heart. Across the bay, lights enticed and blinked, while a flashing red light of a plane slowly but steadily made its way across the deep blackness of the sky. She stepped back, her fingers curling around the edge of the curtain. It was then she noticed something move in the garden. She stared. Someone was out there.

The door bell buzzed. She jolted. Who on earth could be calling at this hour?

The bell buzzed again.

Carefully, she looked through the peephole in the door and recognized him straight away. Rick Caruso. The private investigator. Anthony’s best man. He stood there, outlined against a shaft of moonlight, dressed in denim jeans and a black leather jacket emphasizing his leanness and masculinity.

She opened the door.

‘Hello,’ he said, his blue eyes looking at her speculatively. As he moved forward, he threw an even deeper shadow across her path.

‘I wasn’t expecting anyone,’ she replied. Her hand moved to the edge of the door, holding it ajar but not far enough for him to come in. ‘If you’re looking for Anthony, he’s not here.’

His tone was casual. ‘I’m not looking for Anthony.’ One dark eyebrow shot up enquiringly. ‘Aren’t you going to invite me in?’

Before she had time to answer, he pushed the open door wider, so Gina had no choice but to step back further into the hallway.

‘Your security isn’t very good, you should have a deadlock fixed on to the door,’ he added, as he moved past.

His dictatorial attitude infuriated her and reminded her of Anthony. She pushed her hair back from her face. ‘Thanks for the advice, but there are more important things on my mind,’ she replied coolly. ‘The last thing I need right now is a discussion on my security arrangements.’

He inclined his head and flashed a grin, obviously not in the least put out by her reply.

‘We’ll see ….’ he drawled, strolling through to the living room as if he owned the place. When he took off his leather jacket and threw it over the back of the chair, Gina nearly choked. ‘Hey, what do you think you’re doing?’

His gaze skimmed her face thoughtfully. ‘I’m here to offer my services.’

‘Services?’ she repeated blankly.

‘Yeah, that’s right. It means I’m staying the night.’ He lifted up a delicate Murano glass vase nearby and examined it closely.

‘You’re …. you’re what?’ she stammered. She took a couple of steps towards him. ‘You must be joking.’ She wrenched the vase out of his hands and placed it back on the antique dresser.

He shrugged carelessly, his muscles flexing briefly. ‘I don’t see anyone laughing.’ He moved closer, so close she could smell the fragrance of aftershave and with it something else. Brandy, she
thought, her mouth firming. It was a potent combination and yet one not altogether unpleasant.

She stepped back quickly, feeling she had to put some distance between them. ‘You’ve been drinking,’ she said, in an accusing tone.

His mouth twitched. ‘Yeah, well, so what? I’m sure I deserve a drink or two after what happened today.’ His voice dropped an octave, making it sound even deeper and sexier in the dim light of the room. ‘Besides, Anthony’s in a bad way. He needed to talk. So we went to the Club Italia.’ His gaze swept over her briefly, before he added, ‘but then again, I’m sure you realized that he’s upset.’

‘We’re all upset,’ she replied sharply. She looked at Rick trying to weigh him up but it was impossible. ‘Please go, I have no intention of letting you stay,’ she said firmly. ‘As you can see, I’m fine. I don’t need your help. And I’m sure you’ve got your own bed to go to.’ She lifted her shoulders and added, ‘Or some girlfriend’s, maybe?’

She picked up his black leather jacket and handed it to him.

‘Ah, my reputation precedes me,’ he said, drily. He took two steps closer. ‘I can assure you I’d rather stay here.’ He flashed a quick smile.

‘If you don’t go, I’ll call my grandfather,’ she threatened.

His laugh took her aback. ‘Well, you go right ahead.’

Frowning, she went over to the white phone on the table and punched in the number. Within seconds, she slammed down the phone and turned to face him. She could only gaze at him furiously.

‘Well?’ he asked. His mouth twitched again.

She put her hands on her hips, her chest rising slightly. ‘Why didn’t you tell me my grandfather had hired you as a bodyguard?’

Rick smiled a slow easy smile. ‘You never gave me time – you were too busy trying to throw me out.’ He paused momentarily. ‘You’re not too happy about me staying the night, I take it?’

Gina’s hands clenched by her side. ‘No, I’m not. I don’t need anyone to watch over me. I can take care of myself,’ she replied tightly.

‘I’m sure you can,’ he drawled.

She bristled. ‘And what exactly do you mean by that?’

‘I hear you’re divorced.’

Gina took a short, sharp breath. ‘That is none of your business.’

His gave her a serious look. ‘It might be.’

Gina shifted uncomfortably but couldn’t help being curious. ‘What exactly do you mean?’

‘Your ex-husband has been released from rehab, hasn’t he?’

Gina made herself take some slow breaths. ‘That has nothing to do with you. You might be a friend of Anthony’s, but you’ve no right to pry into my personal affairs. So please … just keep out.’

Unexpectedly, his voice gentled. ‘I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to upset you. It was your grandfather who told me what happened, not Anthony.’

That cut her to the core. ‘Nonno? He had no right, absolutely, no right at all.’ The pain of her failed marriage was still with her in spite of her divorce. The truth was she hadn’t been able to erase it, no matter how hard she had tried. To think her grandfather had betrayed her private life to this stranger made it even worse. She’d heard Rick Caruso was a known womanizer and probably hadn’t an ounce of sympathy in him.

‘Don’t take it so hard, your grandfather had every right to tell me,’ Rick said quietly. ‘He’s worried about you. Can’t you see that? Your sister’s been shot and he wants me to protect you.’

She gulped. ‘Protect me?’ She tried to take an even breath but couldn’t. ‘I don’t understand. Surely, you don’t think someone wants to hurt me as well?’

He shrugged. ‘Who knows what to think? But maybe the police might come up with something.’

Feeling drained at the turn of events, Gina reached out for the back of the chair to steady herself. Everything seemed to crowd in on her in a most disturbing way.

‘Oh my God,’ she murmured. ‘I just can’t believe this.’

Rick moved forward as she swayed slightly. ‘Gina, are you all right?’ As quick as a flash he was beside her, his hand on her arm,
supporting her.

No … no, she wasn’t all right. She felt like her whole world had exploded into tiny fragmented pieces and no matter how she tried, it couldn’t be put together again. How could she tell him that since her parents had died there had been a special bond between her and Maria. They had always been close, inseparable as children. Even more so as identical twins. If Maria died, she couldn’t bear to think what would happen.

Her voice came out shaky. ‘Of course, I’m all right.’

He inclined his head thoughtfully, his eyes enigmatic. ‘For a minute I thought—’

She whirled on him. ‘You thought what? That I’d need a man to take care of me? Wrong, on the first count, Mr Private Investigator. Sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t need you at all.’ Taking another deep breath, she added, ‘Look, I really am grateful at what you’ve done to help, but now, I’m too tired to argue. Since my grandfather employed you for one night, I’ll honour that promise. Quite honestly, I simply can’t be bothered to throw you out. So, please, just stay out of my way, OK?’

Then she promptly walked out to the hallway cupboard to find some clean sheets. He could have the spare room, though the bed wasn’t made up.

Gina swallowed hard. She was too near the edge. It wouldn’t take much for her to break down, dissolve into tears. All she wanted to do was sob her heart out in private. But not in front of him, of all people. All evening she had kept control, but talking about her
ex-husband
had pierced the barrier.

The last thing she needed was a man living with her. She’d had enough of that when she was married. There was no way her freedom was going to be curtailed. She wouldn’t allow it.

‘First thing tomorrow, I want you to leave,’ she threw at him along with the sheets.

His mouth tightened. ‘I wouldn’t count on it.’ He hesitated. ‘Any chance of a coffee? It’s been a long day.’

She shrugged, her voice still cool. ‘Kitchen is on the right. Help yourself.’

‘Thanks,’ he said drily. Then he muttered under his breath, ‘For the welcome.’

A few minutes later, Gina went to bed. She didn’t know that during the night, Rick had come into her room concerned because he had heard her call out. When he entered the bedroom, he wasn’t prepared for the sight of her lying on the bed, her silk nightdress slipped to reveal the curve of one breast. But it was her serene face Rick had noticed most of all. Those dark eyelashes closed tight, emphasized golden skin smooth as a flax leaf. Was it true what they said about her, he wondered? Was she a spoilt rich girl who didn’t give a damn about others? In spite of her confidence, he sensed an underlying vulnerability. Common sense told him never to believe all he heard on the social grapevine and he preferred to reserve judgement for himself. He stared at her for a few seconds before pulling the sheet up around her and returning to his own room.