‘You’re a dream of perfection, and I love you madly-te voja ben-te voja ben-’

‘Te voja ben,’ she whispered longingly.

There was his face as he said it, but it was fading, fading-

‘Gino!’

She screamed again and again, stretching out her arms in a frantic attempt to hold on to him.

‘Come back,’ she cried. ‘Come back. Don’t leave me.’

But then she touched him. She couldn’t see him but she could feel that he’d turned back to her, was taking her in his arms, drawing her against his body.

‘Where did you go?’ she sobbed. ‘I was so scared-I longed for you-where were you?’

Strong arms tightened about her, and she heard the soothing words murmured in her ear.

‘It’s all right, don’t panic. I’m here.’

‘Don’t leave me again.’

‘I won’t leave you as long as you need me.’

‘Where have you been?’ she whispered. ‘I’ve missed you so much.’

She reached for his face and kissed it again and again in her passionate relief, his forehead, his cheeks, his mouth. To her surprise he didn’t kiss her back, but at least he was there.

‘Te voja ben,’ she whispered. ‘Te voja ben.’

‘Lie back,’ he said, gently pushing her down against the pillow. ‘You’re safe now.’

She could still feel his hands clasping hers, and their strength calmed her. Her terror began to fade. After so long among nightmares and mystery, Gino had finally returned, his arms open to her.

‘Sleep now,’ he whispered. ‘And in the morning everything will be all right.’

But something perverse in her, something awkward that months of misfortune hadn’t managed to stifle, made her open her eyes.

A man was sitting on her bed, holding her hands. Even in the semi-darkness she could tell that it wasn’t Gino.

CHAPTER TWO

PIETRO was in pyjamas and his hair was tousled. He switched on the small bedside light and watched as the joy died out of her eyes.