Page 30 of Under Her Skin

“Of course.” He held out her chair for her, so many questions whirling around his mind. Had Hero changed her mind about seeing him? What did this woman mean by not letting Herocome?

Imelda Donati was studying him. “I can see what you’re thinking. She’s a twenty-eight-year-old woman. How do I get to keep her from doing whatever she wants? Signore Bachi…I wanted to see you first, to meet you, to see the man who got my sister into this mess she’sin.”

Arturo nodded. “In that case, let me waste none of your time. You’re here to see if I’m good enough for Hero. Let me set you straight. I’m not. I’m not good enough for her. But I’m going to do everything I can to become thatman.”

Imelda raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow. “You should know, Signore Bachi, that I’m not easily swayed by a pretty face, even one as handsome as yours. It’ll take more than words to persuade me that you care for my sister. We nearly lost her when Tom and Beth died. When she woke after three months in a come to find her husband and daughter were dead, and I had to be the one to tell her that we buried them without her…I never want her to go through thatagain.”

“I swear to God, I will make sure she is cared for the rest of her life if she lets me,” Arturo said fiercely. “I don’t want to dictate what Hero does; I want her to be free, happy, and more than anything,safe.”

“Safe.” Imelda’s expression changed then, losing some of its blank ferociousness to fear. “SignoreBachi…”

“Please call meArturo.”

“Arturo…did you know Hero was threatened before she wasattacked?”

He nodded. “I just heard recently about some notes she got before the acci…attack. She’s confirmed it, then? Shewasattacked at the VillaPatrizzi?”

Imelda sighed. “Yes. A man grabbed her from behind, beat her and told her he wasn’t going to kill her ‘thistime.’”

Arturo’s mouth turned to sand, but Imelda was still talking so he couldn’t lose himself in the horror ormisery.

“She has no idea who he was or why he would target her. Arturo, if you care for her as much as you say you do, prove it. Help me find who is threatening mysister.”

“Anything.” Arturo reached across and grasped her hand, pressing firmly. “Anything.”

Imelda considered him, lightly turning her hand free. “Then perhaps you can tell me who this woman is in these photographs that Hero wassent?”

She placed the two photographs on the table in front of him. Arturo’s chest hurt when he stared down at them. Flavia. Hurt and terrified, then butchered. Looking so much like Hero…the meaning was clear. Whoever sent the notes—the killer—wanted to kill Hero, too. Why? He swallowedhard.

No.Not going to happen, you son-of-a-bitch. You don’t get to decide whether Hero lives or dies.No.

Arturo looked at Imelda, his eyes intense andserious.

“I would die before I let this happen to Hero. I would kill anyone who tried. You have my word,Imelda.”

Imelda studied him for a long moment, then stood to go. “You can see Hero. Tonight.” She dug in her purse for a scrap of paper. “Here’s the address. Don’t let me down, SignoreBachi.”

“I swear to God, I won’t. I won’t let you down. More importantly, I won’t disappointHero.”

Imelda toldHero that Arturo would be picking her up at eight. “Pack an overnight bag. You’re staying with him thisevening.”

Happiness soared in Hero’s heart. “He saidthat?”

“No, I did. I allowedit.”

Hero grinned. “Pimp.”

“Stopit.”

“Big PimpSister.”

Imelda rolled her eyes. “Are youdone?”

Hero hugged her sister. “I am. Thank you, thankyou.”

“Hero…he seems like a good man, but you’re the best judge of that. I showed him those horrible pictures of that girl, Flavia. He agrees with me…you’re in danger. But like you, he has no idea who might be targeting you, because he doesn’t know who killed his ex-girlfriend. He’s convinced it’s the same man, and I agree. So, be careful. He’s arranged protection for you, and rather annoyingly for me, too, while I’m in the country.” Her mouth hitched in a smile. “He’s quitetenacious.”

Hero tooka long soak in Fliss’s tub that afternoon and dressed carefully. Her entire body was tingling in anticipation of seeing Arturo, but she was still nervous as hell. When he’d called, she had been beyond elated, but Imelda told her to temper her excitement, and then she insisted on vetting Arturo before she allowed Hero to meet him. Only her newly established relationship with Imelda, as fragile as it was, had made Hero agree to thearrangement.