Page 38 of Under Her Skin

Hero was shocked that she felt no fear when he said that. Not even the memory of Beth changed the peace that she suddenly felt. She would always love her little girl, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t love another baby just as much. “No, because I would love that,too.”

If she stopped to think how much her life had changed in just a few weeks, she would get scared, but all she knew right now was that this man was her future, and if she were to get pregnant, she knew it would only solidify that forher.

However,when they got back to Villa Bachi, everything changed. Waiting for them was Peter and a man they didn’t recognize. Peter introducedthem.

“Turo, Hero, this is Simon Lascelles. He’s from the American Consulate in Milan. Mr. Lascelles, Arturo Bachi, and Hero Donati. I think we had better goinside.”

Hero shot a worried look at Arturo, who squeezed her hand and nodded. “Let’s.”

Inside, Simon Lascelles sat down with them. “Miss Donati, I’m aware you contacted us a few days ago about the threats to your life. While we have been looking into them, we discovered something ratherdisturbing.”

Hero’s chest tightened. “What isit?”

“You were kind enough to give us your family’s details, and we checked their wellbeing as a matter ofroutine.”

“Oh, God. Mom…Dad…”

“They’re fine,” Lascelles assured her quickly. “It’s your adoptive sister. You told us she left Milan to flyhome?”

Hero couldn’t speak. “Oh,God.”

Lascelles nodded. “I’m afraid we have confirmed it. Miss Imelda Donati never made the flight. She never leftItaly.”

Arturo talkedto Lascelles and Peter as they left, but Hero couldn’t hear anymore. She dropped her head into her hands. Why? Why go afterImelda?

Her cell phone rang, and she knew immediately who it was. “Where the fuck is mysister?”

Her tormenter laughed. “Safe. For now. She’ll be released right after my knife gutsyou.”

“Why are you doing this? What have I ever done to you?” Her voice was a whisper now, the pain of knowing he had her sister overwhelmingher.

There was a long pause, and when he spoke again, his voice was so full of malice and malevolence that it made her shiver. “Because you lovehim…”

The line wentdead.

Arturo came backinto the room then and saw her defeated look, the phone on the floor. Hero looked up at him, the pain in her eyes palpable, and it made his chesthurt.

“Il mia amore, what is it?” But she just shook her head, unable tospeak.

He sat down next to her and wrapped his arms around her, feeling her tremble. “He called you again, didn’the?”

“He has Imelda,” she whispered into his chest. “He says she’ll be released after I’m dead. He won’t release her. He’ll kill her,too.”

“He is not going to killanyone.” Arturo felt a murderous rage of his own. “We’re going to find out who this motherfucker is and end him, once and forall.”

Hero looked up at him and nodded. “Agreed. Any clue how to doit?”

Arturo felt hopelessness seep into his bones. “No. But we’ll figure it out.” He stroked her hair away from her face. “Just promise me you won’t ever giveup.”

“I promise. We will get to have our happy ever after,Turo.”

“Yes, we do. Damn right wewill.”

“And we’ll get my sister back safe andsound?”

The hopeful, trusting look she gave him melted Arturo completely, and he drew her back into a tender kiss. “Yes. I promise,cara mia. We will stop at nothing to ensure her safety. Andyours.”

No matterhow much Arturo spent on detectives or leaned on the local polizia or the American consulate, no one could tell themanything.