Page 41 of Under Her Skin
Hero nodded. “They—whoever they are—have taken my sister. I’m supposed to hand myself over to whoever it is, and they’ll let hergo.”
“Andyou?”
She met his gaze, the terror in her lovely brown eyes searing. “I’ll bekilled.”
“But why for heaven’ssake?”
She shook her head, tears dropping down her cheeks. “I don’t know. I don’tknow.”
“And Bachi is what? Telling you how to run yourlife?”
“He said…God…I don’t even think he meant it now, but just hearing the words come out of hismouth…”
“Tell me.” George leaned forward, and she searched hiseyes.
“He said…if it meant me dying, he…would let Imeldadie.”
George sat back, sucking in a deep breath. “I can see his point, but you still must have beenshocked.”
“I was. I challenged him…and that’s when things got bad. He practically wanted me to be a prisoner in my own—hell, not even myownhome, buthis. He took my phone, wouldn’t let me call my parents in the US…the last week has been nothing short of hell. God, I really shouldn’t be telling you this. I shouldgo.”
Hero stood, flustered and flushed, but George caught her hand. “No, don’t go. At least until you’ve calmed down. I can find you somewhere to staytonight.”
“No, really, it’s fine. Thankyou.”
“Hero.” George stood, dwarfing her tiny frame. “Allow me to help. However much you might think it, this is not a safe place for a beautiful woman on herown.”
Hero looked wary for a moment, then her shoulders slumped. “Fine.”
She allowed him to steer her out of the restaurant and into his car. “I’ll take you to a hotel outside of town. That way, you can find somepeace.”
“Thank you.” She still seemed a little nervous, looking around as they pulled away from the sidewalk. George kept glancing over at her. Was she scared that Arturo might see them? Was she scared ofhim?
He smiled to himself. He had waited weeks for this moment, to be alone with her, vulnerable and distressed. He tapped in a number on his cell phone, switching it to hands-free as he drove. “Yes, this is George Galiano. I need your best hotel suite. Yes…today. I have a friend in need of it. Thank you, we’ll be theredirectly.”
He ended the call and looked at Hero, who was calmer now and silent. She looked pale. “The Villa Helena has a suite foryou.”
“I can’t thank youenough.”
“I’ll arrange for your things to be brought over fromVillaBachi.”
Hero sighed. “I never thought when I came here that this would be mylife.”
George put his hand on hers, and she stiffened but didn’t pull away. “I believe I’ve said this to you before, Hero. Arturo Bachi isn’t your onlyoption.”
Hero didn’t say anything then. After he’d installed her in the suite at the Villa Helena, he kissed her hand and left her alone. Going down to reception, he slid a one-hundred euro note to the receptionist, a cute young blonde who he’d fucked on more than one occasion. “I want to know her every movement, every phone call out, everything. If she has any visitors,” he said, and the blonde nodded, simpering at him. He’d take her out as thanks, plow that sweet cunt of hers, and pretend she was Hero. Soon, he wouldn’t have topretend.
Because George Galiano always, always got what he wanted, and by God, he wanted Hero Donati, and he would do anything to have her, even if it meant taking her against herwill.
Chapter Twenty-One
“He’s having you watched by the hotelstaff.”
Hero sighed. “I thought as much. Did he send one of his goons for myclothes?”
Arturo laughed darkly. “He wouldn’t dare. He’ll come himself to rub my nose init.”
“God, he’s such acreep.”
