Page 24 of Under Her Skin
“Becauseyouwere the one who bought the Patrizzi apartment!” Fliss crowed, obviously enjoying herself. “Man, I bet the polizia went to town onhim.”
Hero frowned. “Thepolice?”
“They arrested him on suspicion of attackingyou.”
“No, no, no, it wasn’t him,it wasn’t him…oh my God, no!” Hero felt hysteria bubbling up insideher.
Fliss looked alarmed and got up to hug her. “Ssh, ssh, it’s okay. Calm down. They let him go. He had more than one alibi. But, Hero…so someone did attackyou?”
Hero nodded. “Yes. But it wasn’t Arturo. Iswearitwasn’t.”
“I believe you.” Fliss’s usually merry face was somber. “Are you planning on telling thepolizia.”
Hero nodded. “Yes. I just…I have to get my mind around things first.” How do you get your mind around almost having your head bashedin?
“Okay. And you andBachi…?”
“Not anymore,” Hero whispered, still aching at the fact that he wasn’t by her side. That he had left when she needed him so badly. “Not anymore. Not after…” The weight on her chest grew too heavy then, and she began to sobquietly.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Fliss wrapped her arms around her and held her as she cried herself out. Finally, Fliss swept Hero’s damp hair away from her forehead. “Listen, when are they letting youout?”
“A couple ofdays.”
“Well, then, you can stay with me. For as long as you need. I have a guest bedroom; it’s warm and safe. Noarguments.”
Hero smiled at her. “Anyone tell you you’re thebest?”
“Frequently.” Fliss grinned. “Now, I think you should get some sleep, sweetheart. Do you need some sleepingpills?”
Hero shook her head. “But I could do with some painkillers.”
Fliss squeezed her hand. “Be right back,babe.”
Later, alone, Hero fell into a fitful sleep, tormented by images of Arturo’s beautiful face full of rage and hatred for her. She didn’t understand him walking away so coldly—it was only an apartment, and he’d said he had real feelings for her. Even so, she should have told him sooner. She didn’t care about the damn apartment now. He could haveit.
But the thought of him being in the world and hating her made her miserable. Even in this short time, she knew…she loved Arturo Bachi. And now she would have to live through the heartbreak of knowing she would never see himagain.
Chapter Thirteen
“Run that past me again.Herobought the Patrizziapartment?”
Arturo gave a quick nod. Peter sat back in his chair, clearly stunned. “And someone attacked herthere?”
“So it seems. Butwho?”
“Does she have anyidea?”
Arturo looked away from Peter’s intense gaze and said nothing. Peter sighed. “You haven’t been to seeher.”
“No.”
“Youmad?”
“Yes. And no. Hell, I don’t know what to think. She kept it from me all thattime.”
Peter fixed him with a glare. “All that time? Arturo, it’s been less than two weeks. Maybe she didn’t know how to tell you. Maybe she got scared. Maybe she didn’t want you to findout.”
“Then why did she invite me to the apartment? She knew.” Arturo got up and stared out of thewindow.
