Page 48 of Under Her Skin

“Not tonight, George. I’ll call you. Now, I have to be going, so would you excuseme?”

His eyes narrowed, and for a second, Hero could see real rage flaring in them. As quickly as she saw it, it disappeared. “Of course,” he said, smoothly. “I look forward to yourcall.”

In the car to Milan,Hero tried to concentrate on what she would ask the man at the consulate, but soon, all she could think of was Melly. Where was she? Was she in pain? Was she hurt? Was shealive?

God.And here I am getting married without her.The guilt weighed heavy on Hero, but at the same time, she didn’t want to wait a moment longer to be Arturo’s wife. It felt like the safety harness she needed to get through all ofthis.

Besides all the hurt, the fear, and the terror, she had found something real, something shining amidst the rubble of her life. The love of her life. Or rather,anotherlove of her life. Hero couldn’t weigh Tom and Arturo’s love against each other—they were completely different, and she knew in her marrow that Arturo would honor Tom’s love for Hero as he did his own. She wished with all her heart that they could have met. Would they have liked each other? She hoped so. Tom was so easy going and Arturo socharming.

Hero closed her eyes.Sometimes, just sometimes, I wish life could be easy. That Arturo and I could be happy in our love without all of this pain, this hurt.Without this psychopath targeting her for God knows what reason.Whoever you are, just know, I’m not giving up. I get my happy ending this time, asshole, whether you wish it ornot.

Her resolve hardening, she opened her eyes and stared out at the beautiful countryside passing by for the rest of thejourney.

Drivingto the office he shared with Peter, Arturo made a decision. He would ask Peter outright if he wanted the business, and if Peter replied that he did, he would offer it to him. Give him everything he wanted. If the killer still pursued Hero after that…they were dealing with an unknownentity.

It would be a start. He would read his best friend and make a decision based on gut instinct whether Peter was lying or capable of hurting the woman Arturo loved. Or the women he loved and had loved. Peter had never liked Flavia much, but as a loyal (supposedly) friend to Arturo, he’d never expressed it to his face. But would he have murdered her? In such a personal, intimate way? If he wanted her dead, he could have easily arranged a hit and run or a random mugging. Flavia’s killer wanted Arturo to know that he enjoyed killing her; that for him, it was an animal, sexual desire for herblood.

Arturo shook his head, trying to clear it of the images that plagued him. Flavia’s body morphing into Hero’s, bloodied and brutalized.No. Not this time,motherfucker.

He smiled at Marcella as he went into the office. “Buongiorno, Marcie. Is Peter inyet?”

“Sure is. Want somecoffee?”

“Later,thanks.”

Arturo walked down the hallway to Peter’s office. His friend looked up and smiled. “Hey, I didn’t expect to seeyou.”

“Whynot?”

“I thought you needed some time after the break-up. It seemed you took it prettyhard.”

Arturo half-smiled. “I needed thedistraction.”

Peter nodded. “Fair point. Want to go over some numbers for thePatrizzi?”

“Not just yet. There’s something else I wanted to talk to youabout.”

Peter looked interested. “Oh?”

Heregoes.

“Pete…do you want my business? Or, rather, the family’s business? Is it money you want orposition?”

Peter was silent for a moment, his gaze searching Arturo’s face for a reason behind his question. “Turo…”

“Just tell me. Do you want my business? If you do…it’s yours. Just say the word. There are things more precious to me in this world thanthat.”

Peter got up and went to close the office door. Sitting back down, he sighed. “Turo…what is this? Why are you asking me thesequestions?”

“I need to know…if you had a desire for more and what you would do forit.”

“Such as?” Peter’s voice had a hard edge now, but Arturo was in toodeep.

“Would you…try and take the business from me by…dishonestmethods?”

“The fuck, Turo?” Peter looked angry now, but Arturo pressedon.

“What I mean is…God, Peter…are you the person trying to kill the woman I love?” His voice broke at the end, knowing this conversation, at the very least, would most likely destroy his friendship with thisman.