“What? No, you stay here, too,” I whisper. I grab his arm, suddenly frantic. “Stay here. Don’t you go out there. Please don’t go out there.”
He pushes me into the bathroom and closes the door. “Lock it,” he snaps angrily through the heavy wood.
My face scrunches up and tears fill my eyes as I flick the lock. I begin to pace. Oh my God, what is happening. I hear our bedroom door open and I hold my breath as I listen. My heart is hamme
ring hard in my chest.
I wait… and I wait… and I wait.
Eventually, I hear voices I recognize.
Marley and Maso.
I hear Enrico say something from up the hall. I open the bathroom door and peer around the side of it. What’s happening out there?
“Libero,” someone yells. Translation: Clear.
The house is a hive of activity. There must be ten men inside searching it. I can hear them walking through and banging around.
Enrico comes into the bedroom.
“Why do you have the door unlocked?” he barks.
My face crumbles, and his falls as he sees my tears and my shaking hand holding the heavy guy. I’m a nervous wreck.
“Olivia,” he says softly as he takes the gun from me and wraps me in his arms. “It’s okay, it’s okay.” He holds me against his chest. “What did you hear?”
“I heard the step creak.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, and I heard the top one creak a few moments later.”
He frowns as he holds me tight.
“What’s going on?” Sergio asks as he comes into the room. “I was in the boathouse and heard the commotion.”
We both turn toward him, surprised. “What are you doing here?” Enrico snaps.
“I was covering a shift for someone who called in sick.”
“Olivia heard something.”
Sergio’s eyes flick to me. “Did you see anyone?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“It’s impossible. Nobody could get in here. We have the place surrounded.”
“Just search the fucking house,” Enrico growls impatiently.
He storms out of the room on a mission.
The hairs on the back of my neck rise to attention.
For some sick reason, my gut instinct sets off an alarm bell.
It was him. Sergio was in the fucking house. I can feel it.