Page 388 of Under Her Skin

Ama was convinced Raff blamed her for his wife’s stabbing, even though both Enda and Tommaso assured her nothing could be further from the truth. “He’s just gone into over-protective mode. Although, at this point, I wouldn’t say anything is too overprotective as far as Inca goes.” Tommaso had been almost as devastated by Inca’s attempted murder as Raff, and Ama remembered that he, Tommaso, had loved Inca first. She had hugged him. “I love her too,” she whispered to him, and he nodded, fighting back thetears.

She saw Raff first, and he came to her and wrapped his arms around her. “She’s just sleeping. The pain killers make her sotired.”

Ama walked in and tried not to give a cry of horror. Inca had lost a lot of weight. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her lovely face, even in sleep, was creased inpain.

Ama wobbled, and both Raff and Enda steadied her. Ama turned to Raff. “Is she going to beokay?”

Raff drew in a deep breath. “We hope so. It’ll be a long road to recovery—even longer than last time. We’ll get there. Do you want to sit with her for a while? She should wake upsoon.”

Ama nodded. “How much does she know? I don’t want to upsether.”

“Everything. She asked to be told everything. It …god …she’s stronger than even Irealized.”

Ama touched his face. “Raff, I’m so sorry about thebaby.”

He half-smiled, but it was a strained thing. “The strange thing is …we had made our peace with not having kids. This seems like a cruel joke. As if being stabbed nine times by two men twice her size wasn’t bad enough.” His voice broke and he looked away. Enda gripped hisshoulder.

“Come on, Raff. I’m buying you a strong coffee and something to eat.Cara mia, do you mind if we leave you two alone for awhile?”

Ama shook her head. “I’ll be here with Inca. Take as long as youneed.”

Inca woke lessthan ten minutes later, and Ama helped her sip from a cup of water. Inca smiled at her. “Hey, you. How are you? Is there anynews?”

Ama bugged at her. “Shouldn’t I be the one asking ifyou’reokay?”

“Well,” Inca looked down at the heavy bandaging around her torso. “I’m going to say I’m all set.” She grinned, but then her smile faded. “And don’t even think you’re responsible for this. Raff told me that’s what you told Enda and it’s a bunch of crap. This is all Jackson Gallo.Asshole.”

‘Asshole’ was such an understatement when it came to describing Jackson that suddenly Ama got the giggles. Inca looked at her in surprise, then started to laugh too. “Oww, oww, don’t make me laugh. My stomach muscles are compromised. Oww!” But she dissolved into gigglestoo.

“I don’t know why I’m laughing,” Ama said, wiping her eyes, “You’re in here, my sister’s still missing, andJackson…”

“Is still breathing,” Inca said, her smile fading. “Girl, if you can wait until I’m mobile, I say you and me go Black Ops on hisass.”

“From your lips to God’s ear, Inks. But seriously now, I am so sorry you got dragged into this. I can’t imagine what it waslike.”

Inca winced a little as she shifted in the bed. “Personal. That’s the word I keep coming back to. The man who stabbed me …it was personal for him. He enjoyed it. He got off on sticking that knife in my belly. Jackson’s surrounded himself with men like him. Psychotic, sociopathic, and devoid of empathy. They like to kill, and they like to killwomen.”

Ama dropped her head in her hands and moaned. “Inks…I can’t sit around waiting for Jackson to kill Selima. I know the men are doing everything their money will allow. It’s notenough.”

Inca was studying her. “Now I know you’re not thinking about going toJackson?”

Ama met her gaze. “If it was a choice between you and Raffaelo …what would youdo?”

“Jesus, Ama …you can’t ask me that. Goddamn it.” Inca’s voice broke. “I wish you hadn’t told me. Please, darling, I’m begging you. Don’t give in tohim.”

Ama shook her head. “No, you misunderstand me. I have no intention of giving into him. I’m going to killhim.”

Ama wasquiet on the way back to the villa that night, and when they got home, Enda sent the staff home and they went to their bedroom. Enda sat on the bed. “What’s going on in that mind?” he askedgently.

Ama sat next to him, brushing her fingers through his hair. “Enda …I think we need to go back to SanFrancisco.”

Enda looked at her, and she could see the conflict in her mind. Finally, he sighed. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. We’re not getting anywhere here. It’s just …the thought of you being in hissightline.”

“We don’t know he’s there, but I guarantee he’ll be watching. We go back. I go back to work as if nothing’s changed. We—you and I—will be visible in society. We goad him into contacting me again. We make a deal. Me forSeli—“

“No way. That’s not’s going to happen,cara mia,” Enda got up and paced the room. “I agree we should be there, but if you think we’re going to use you asbait.”

Ama sighed. “I think it’s too late to consider anything else, baby. Iamhis bait. I’m what he wants. We’ve established he could be anywhere in the world, which means I’m already in his sights. He knows we’re here. That’s why he sent men to kill Inca. He wanted me to know he is alwaysclose.”