Run To Rome

“Si!” Simone yelled with a jerk of the gun. “He shot my Renzo. Do not deny it—la polizia came to the ospedale as I retrieved supplies. They are searching for you right now. After that shooting at the United States Consulate, they know you are armed.”

Halli’s fingers gripped Trent’s forearm as she gave a soft gasp beside him. “You told them about us?”

“No. I do not get my justice if I reveal your location,” Simone said. “This way, I am defending myself from assassino.”

Trent eyed the gun, wondering where she’d gotten it, if it was loaded, and did she really know how to use it? Knowing Lorenzo, the answer to the last two parts was yes. Next question—would she use it? He prayed that answer was no, but grief did strange things to a person and if he was wrong, a sudden move could prove fatal. He wasn’t willing to risk it with Halli at his side.

“I didn’t shoot Lorenzo, Simone—”

She gave a wild shake of her head. Her hand trembled even more than before. “They found him in your swimming pool. They want to ask you questions about his death. But I see your arm. He shot you when you betrayed him, did he not? I ask you why? What did he do to you?”

“I swear to you, I did not betray him. He was my friend. He was helping me—”

“And for this, you murder him?”

“No! Do you really think I’d come here if I’d killed him?”

“Simone—”

Halli’s plea was cut short by the ring of the cell phone in Trent’s pocket. He stiffened, his gaze slicing to Halli’s. Lapaglia calling back about Ben. Returning his focus to Simone, he reached for the phone.

“No,” Simone ordered.

“He has to answer it,” Halli argued.

The phone rang again. Trent slid his hand into his pocket. “The men who killed Lorenzo have Halli’s brother. We have a video that proves they shot him, not me. They’re setting me up.”

“Basta! Stop lying to me.”

“They’ll kill my brother if you don’t let him answer.” Halli took a step forward, but halted when Simone’s hand wavered in her direction.

Rachel had worked her way off the table to brace herself in the doorway. “Please,” she begged over the fourth ring. “It’s true. They have our brother—”

The second Simone’s attention shifted to Rachel, Trent lunged forward. He grasped Simone’s wrist with his right hand and twisted it behind her back. Using his body to pin her against the wall, he simultaneously answered the phone.

“Who is this?”

Halli stepped forward, and Trent’s firm squeeze on Simone’s wrist made her release the gun into Halli’s possession.

“Let us not play games, Mr. Tomlin.”

The cold, calm voice across the cell phone line sent a chill down Trent’s spine. Simone tensed and he knew she heard both sides of the conversation.

“Fine, Lapaglia. We both have something the other wants, so I’ll keep this short and sweet. A simple trade. My video for Ben Sanders.”

“As I understand, the video does not belong to you. Neither does Benjamin. Why do you concern yourself in this matter?”

“You know why, you bastard. Like you said, no games. Just make the deal and this can be over.”

“Your arrogance exceeds your brother’s.”

Mention of Sean gave Trent absolute confirmation that the man had been involved in his brother’s death. Fury engulfed him. His fingers clenched so hard it was a miracle the phone didn’t snap in two.

“You will not last the day with the police searching for you,” Lapaglia taunted. “Too bad some of them will shoot first and ask questions later. Curious event, eh? Roselli’s body turning up at your villa?”

Lorenzo’s surname brought forth a soft gasp from Simone. Trent controlled a violent urge to punch the wall as if it were Lapaglia’s face and calmly stated, “Sucks for you that the video doesn’t reveal my face behind the trigger finger.”

Silence.