There was no roar of traffic from a main road, or light pollution from a city.
It was remote.
He hadn’t lived there the whole time.He’d moved around Italy, from place to place before deciding on Abruzzo to spend his golden years.
Those golden years were about to be abruptly cut short.
There were a few other properties, all the same box-like design with the shell-pink paint.
Michael didn’t spend much time with his neighbors, but he did have a carer that checked on him twice a day, once in the morning, and once in the evening.
It would be her that would find his body.
This was not a chance encounter.It was not opportunity.
It was premediated murder.
They’d watched from afar, learned their victim’s routine, knew where he’d be and when to strike, and right then, Michael was asleep in his bed, completely unaware of the danger creeping closer.
They knew he left the downstairs window open all night—it was a trustworthy place after all.The net curtain billowed from the window, almost encouraging them closer.
“Gloves,” Chad murmured.
“Like I was going to forget.”
Chad got to the window first.He hooked his gloved fingers around the edge then pulled it open as far as it would go.
Romeo helped him through, then waited at the back sliding doors for Chad to let him in.
Michael had a Ring doorbell, easily bypassed when they used the back door to enter the property.Several of the villas had them, but only one villa had a camera facing towards the sea.Luckily for them, it was on the far end of the row of properties.
They took the stairs, Romeo going first, and Chad following behind.
Michael had left his bedroom door open.A fan above him spun with a faint whistle.They both looked down on him sleeping peacefully, oblivious to what was about to happen.
“Ready?”Chad asked.
“Ready.”
Chad flicked on the bedside light.
Michael startled, groaning as he woke.His eyes shot open when he caught sight of the two masked men standing by the bed, and he flailed, arms swiping through the air in an attempt to defend himself.
He said something in Italian, and Romeo snapped a reply before switching to English.
“Up,” Romeo growled, taking his arm.He yanked him out from beneath the sheets.Michael stumbled, going to his knees.Romeo took hold of his pajama top, pulling him to his feet.
“Take what you want,” Michael said.
“Don’t worry,” Romeo replied.“We will.”
He dragged Michael from the room.Chad watched him go, then moved around the bedroom, yanking open drawers, and upturning the contents.The only noteworthy item was a Rolex watch, which he snatched from the box.
When Chad came downstairs, Michael sat at the table, trembling as he shot pleading looks at Romeo.The more he tried to gain sympathy with Romeo, the angrier Romeo got until he viewed Michael through a squint, showing only a sliver of his green eyes.
“Please,” Michael said.“I don’t have much.There’s ...there’s a tin of money in the cupboard.”
He pointed with a shaking finger to the kitchen area.Chad strode over, and opened cupboard after cupboard despite Michael’s wavering voice telling him it was the one on the end.
