Run To Rome

“No, you won’t.”

“Yes, I will. If I can drive this one, I can drive—”

“I said no.”

Gaze fixed on his back, she waited for him to face her and explain his reasoning. A full minute passed, during which he didn’t even bother with a glance over his shoulder. As if he’d said “No,” and that was it. Disbelief combined with rising anger.

“There is no way you’re leaving me—”

He banged a fist on the counter and swung around so fast she took a step back before she could help it.

“Damn it, Halli, I knew this was going to be an issue. Why the hell do you think I wanted you to stay at Simone’s? You are not going, so let’s end this argument right now. I’ll ask Giovanni to drive the boat.”

“You can’t drag him into this. It’s not fair to Concetta or your friend George and you know it. Or me for that matter, because if something happens to him...”

The flexing of muscle in his jaw told her she was right. She crossed her arms over her chest in satisfaction. “You got no one but me to drive that boat.”

“I’ll call Simone’s cousin.”

She shook her head. “That was my choice, and I’m not risking Ben’s life by involving any police.”

“Then I’ll find someone else,” he vowed. “I’m not taking you in that close to these guys.”

“And I’m not letting you go in to rescue my brother alone.”

“Because you still don’t trust me, do you?”

“That’s not it at all,” she shot back, annoyed he’d play that card. “And after last night, you should know that.”

That made him pause. Emotion flared in his eyes but he quickly turned back to the bar and pulled the cell phone from his pocket. “No. End of discussion.”

Determination ground her teeth together before she forced a deep breath and said calmly, “Doesn’t matter how many times you say the word, short of tying and gagging me, I’m going.”

He braced his hands, hung his head and regarded her with a rigid sideways look. The unwavering force of his piercing gaze bored between her shoulder blades on her way up the stairs to the deck.

An hour later, Halli sat on a sun-warmed wrought-iron bench, a nameless book in her hand that did no more to hold her interest than the splendid view of Lake Como and the lush, colorful gardens of Villa Melzi surrounding her. She only had eyes for the tall, dark haired man some twenty yards away.

Trent could insist she stay behind all he wanted, didn’t mean his decision was final. She was here now, wasn’t she? Not back at the boat like he’d also tried to dictate. Lack of trust wasn’t the issue any longer, like he’d accused in an attempt to guilt her into complying. No way she’d let him go into such a dangerous situation without any form of back up.

Besides the fact he needed her, it was her responsibility to help rescue Ben.

Trent didn’t look around as he sat with a newspaper and a to-go cup of espresso on the stone wall by the steps some twenty yards away, but Halli would bet he hadn’t read any more than she had. Beneath that tattered baseball cap, behind those mirrored sunglasses, she knew his razor-sharp hazel gaze scanned the garden’s visitors, locals and tourists alike, searching for the man who held the key to her brother’s survival.

Somewhere in the distance, church bells chimed the four o’clock hour. Halli looked around for anyone with a bag that could be holding cash. Her unsuccessful gaze doubled back to Trent as he flicked down one corner of the paper. After a casual glance, he returned his attention to the newspaper.

Amazing how he blended in with the other Italians in the area despite being U.S. born and raised. An air of sexy mystery surrounded him, and she forgot she was mad at him. She knew she’d never look at a magazine picture of him clean-shaven without imagining the shadow on his jaw and the look in his eyes as he made love to her. Would looking at those pictures in a few years hurt as much as the live version now, knowing their time together was almost over?

She forced the question from her head and wondered about the man delivering the money. Anxiety ate away her outer layer of calm as the minutes ticked by. Worry mushroomed when Trent gave up all pretense of reading to openly scan the area. No one approached, and he gave no indication of recognizing anyone.

Halli shut her unread book with a thud and headed in his direction. The tilt, hang, and slight shake of his head conveyed his annoyance at her deviation to this supposed simple plan, but she didn’t care. The stone warmed her hip and palm as she leaned against the wall next to him.

“What if he doesn’t show?”

“He’ll show,” Trent ground out.

“You’re that sure you can trust your buddy Brad?”

“I’m that sure.”