Authors: Jayne Castel

Italian Romance (8 page)

The
sounds of a struggle continued, before something metal rattled across the floor
towards Luisa, coming to rest against her foot. She reached down and realized
it was the gun. Not knowing what else to do, she picked it up, wondering if she
would even have the courage to use it.

Meanwhile,
a gurgling sound from one of the men, warned Luisa that the fight was nearly
over.

Luisa
felt panic overwhelm her. Was that terrible sound was coming from Catanese? She
wanted to help him but she had no idea where that light switch was and dared
not approach the men. A moment later, there was a cracking sound; like a twig
snapping, and the sounds of struggle ceased. Shaking, Luisa waited, the gun
limp in her fingers.

A
plastic click preceded fluorescent light flooding the hallway. Commissario
Valerio Catanese stood, barefoot and clad only in jeans, panting with effort.
He had a red welt on one side of his face but relief flooded through Luisa at
seeing he was alive. On the floor, motionless, and lying face down on the
tiles, was Mario Ponte.

“He's
dead?” Luisa whispered.

Catanese
nodded, “he fought to kill – I couldn’t save my own life without taking his.”

The
police inspector rubbed the side of his face and the red welts that were now
appearing around his neck. “He nearly got the better of me,” he admitted,
“there were a few moments when I thought he'd choke me. He had a grip of
steel.”

Luisa
sank to her knees and the gun clattered to the floor.

Valerio
Catanese stepped across the body of his assailant and knelt down next to Luisa.

“Are
you okay?” he asked, concerned. “Did he hurt you?”

Luisa
shook her head, feeling tears well up as the shock of what had just happened
hit her.

“If
you hadn't been here he would have killed me.” Luisa brushed at the tears as
they rolled down her face. “I've never been so scared in my life.”

“Well
if it's any consolation,” Catanese reached out and stroked her wet cheek, “I
wasn't exactly overjoyed to find him here either. What concerns me is how he
got into the building. I'm so sorry Luisa, I promised you would be safe here.”

Catanese
helped Luisa to her feet and together, they went downstairs. They found the
body of Alberto – the officer who had been on the night shift at reception -
face down in a pool of blood just inside the main doors. His throat had been
cut. Two empty pizza boxes sat on the tiles next to him. Catanese's face was grim
as he called for assistance. He led Luisa away from the grisly scene and put a
blanket around her shoulders. It was not a cold night but Luisa had started to
shake from shock.

She
sat and watched Commissario Catanese take charge of the situation – and
although he did not say as much – she could tell he was furious.

Of
course, she understood why. Mario Ponti should never have gained entry into
the police station. Alberto had committed a grave error; one that had cost him
his life. Not only that, but Luisa knew that Mario Ponti had been valuable to
the police. He had been a possible source of information. Not only Sergio
Esposito, but also other men wanted Mario Ponti dead. Men like him were highly
valuable to the police. Catanese's frustration was palpable.

Within
minutes, the station was crawling with police officers. One of them kindly
brought Luisa her bag and shoes but Catanese was too busy to speak to her. As
the hours wore on, Luisa fell asleep on her chair, wrapped up tightly in her
blanket. She leant her head against the wall; it was not the most comfortable
bed but Luisa was so tired she was past the point of caring.

As
a new day dawned over Naples, one of the young officers gently shook Luisa
awake and handed her a cappuccino. Thanking him, Luisa stood up and removed her
blanket, wrapping her fingers around her coffee for solace. She felt hollow and
sad this morning – the night's events still resonated within her as if they had
happened only moments ago. Worst of all, Valerio Catanese seemed to have
disappeared, leaving her alone right when she needed his company. Strangely, he
was the only one who could make sense of all of this for her. His absence made
her feel even emptier.

***

No
one appeared to notice when Luisa left the police station.

It
was a balmy morning outside, promising the coming day would be a scorcher.
Luisa took the metro and then the cable car up the hill to the Vomero. When she
arrived home, her uncle and aunt fussed over her. They nearly worked themselves
into hysterics when they discovered what had happened.

Eventually,
Luisa escaped their well-meaning questions and fussing, finding refuge in their
huge tiled bathroom. She filled the bathtub with steaming water and soaked
until her skin turned prune-like and her aunt tapped on the door to make sure
she was all right. She emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a thick toweling
robe, but still feeling as if her whole world had just slid off its axis.

Was
this what violence and murder did to you?

Maddeningly,
Valerio Catanese kept intruding upon her thoughts, until she felt like shouting
at him to go away. She felt upset he had not sought her out to say goodbye –
instead leaving her at reception like an afterthought once she was no longer in
physical danger.

Out
on the balcony of her uncle and aunt's apartment, Luisa looked down across the
tumbling white, gray and red roof-tops of Naples and the brooding indigo
outline of Mt. Vesuvius, and wondered if she would ever feel safe in Naples
again.

The
heat eventually waned and, tiring of her aunt's worried looks and fussing,
Luisa offered to pick up some provisions from the local supermarket. Dressing
in a light cotton skirt and t-shirt, and slipping on some ballet pumps, Luisa
made her way downstairs. She pushed open the main door to the building and
stopped in surprise.

Valerio
Catanese was waiting for her.

He
had parked his blue Alfa Romeo, Italian-style, across two parking spaces and
was leaning against his car, arms across his chest, deep in thought. Luisa
wondered if he was summoning the courage to buzz the intercom but then
discarded the thought.

Inspector
Catanese wasn’t the sort of man who had to dredge up the courage to do
anything.

However,
upon seeing her he started slightly and took off his sunglasses.

“Luisa,”
he began, “
Signorina
Durasanti, I just wanted to make sure you were
fine.”

“It's
okay – you can call me Luisa,” Luisa replied with a wry smile, “and yes, as you
see I'm fine.”

“I
apologize for not checking on you. I meant to arrange for someone to drive you
home but after the mess at the station, I had a lot of questions to answer,”
Catanese explained.

“I
imagine you did,” Luisa replied, “it doesn't matter.”

Valerio
Catanese gave her a searching look before raking a hand through his dark hair.

“Well...
actually it does matter. I shouldn't have left you there. Shock made me act out
of character – it tends to make me a bit manic. It doesn't matter how much
violence you witness in a job like mine, having to fight for your life and then
kill a man, still upsets you.”

“Of
course it does,” Luisa approached him and offered a timid smile, “I know what
you did must have been awful. However, you were protecting your own life and
you saved mine – for that I’m grateful.”

Their
gazes met and held for a few moments, and a silent understanding passed between
them. Slowly, Luisa saw the tension ebb out of Valerio Catanese's shoulders.
She suddenly realized that she made him as nervous as he did her. Instinct took
hold of Luisa then and, stepping forward, she planted a soft kiss on his cheek.

“
Grazie
Valerio,” she murmured.

But
when she attempted to pull back, he gently took hold of her arms and drew her
towards him once more. Their lips met for a long lingering kiss – and the kiss
deepened as Catanese let go of her arms and slid his fingers into her hair. The
last remnants of any restraint Luisa might have had dissolved then, and she
linked her arms around his neck, drinking him in.

When
they broke apart, they were both out of breath.

“Wow,”
Luisa put her hand up to her bee-stung lips, “that was quite a kiss!”

Catanese
laughed. It was a wonderful sound, and Luisa realized it was the first time she
had seen him do it. It was very different from the serious police inspector she
had first met.

“Yes
it was,” he agreed, “and I'd like to give you plenty more, if you'll let me.”

Now
it was Luisa's turn to laugh.

“What
was it I was saying about Italian men?”

“I
meant what I said about us not all being the same,” Catanese's smile faded,
“please let me show you a gentler side to Naples.”

“It
was a harsh, judgmental thing for me to say,” Luisa admitted, “I was tired and
scared – but that's no excuse. I would love for you to show me
your
Naples.”

Valerio
Catanese's smile returned. He stepped back and opened his car door with a
flourish.

“Well
then, step inside my lady – your carriage awaits.”

Luisa,
her shopping forgotten, slid into the Alfa Romeo's passenger seat and tried to
wipe the grin off her face. Her Neapolitan adventure had just taken another
twist – and this time it was one that she would enjoy.

The End

About the Author

Jayne Castel writes both contemporary romance set in
Italy and historical romance set in Anglo-Saxon Britannia. She was born in
Lincolnshire, England, grew up in New Zealand, and spent many years living in
Italy (Rome and Umbria).

If you enjoyed this, or any other of Jayne’s work,
please consider posting an honest review on Amazon or Goodreads – it would be
most appreciated!

Jayne
loves to hear from her readers so please email her at:
[email protected]

Visit
Jayne’s website at:
http://www.jaynecastel.com

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a look at Jayne’s blog:
http://jaynecastelblog.blogspot.co.nz/

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Jayne
Castel’s contemporary romance