Suddenly, there were strong arms around her, wrenching her back, a hand clamped over her mouth.
A voice in her ear murmured, “What the fuck are you doing?”
Grabbing with both hands and wrenching the fingers away, she shifted her center of gravity, preparing to twist his wrist and elbow, to fight her way out.
“Stop!” he hissed. “Stay quiet.”
It was familiar: the breath on her cheek, the smell and shape of him. The voice of De Rosa.
“Let me go,” she whispered.
He released, and she pivoted to face him, fury and fear choking her. “He’s in there. Valerio’s in there.”
He drew close, eyes like black holes punched in the darkness. “You saw the condition he’s in. He’s not going to make it. Get out of here while you can.”
The words were calm and practical, but Nikki felt the emotion beneath them. She thought she had the measure of De Rosa, but she didn’t understand this.
“Why the fuck do you care?”
He stared a long moment, then raised his hands and took a step back.
“Your grave,” he said. He glanced at the door behind her and pointed. “Don’t make a sound. Don’t fuck this up or I’ll kill you myself.”
Then he turned and sprinted silently through the trees.
—
Nikki returned to the door. This time, to her immense relief, her knock was answered by a return tap.
“Valerio!” she whispered.
“Nikki! Good god, Nikki! Is that you?”
He sounded weak.
“I’m going to get you out,” she said. “How badly are you hurt?”
He didn’t answer for a long moment. Nikki worried what this meant.
“Bad,” he said at last. “Bleeding out…leg’s shot…and my head…something’s wrong…can’t stay awake.”
“Okay, okay,” she said. Her mind was racing.
“Thirsty,” he said. “Do you have water?”
“Not with me…. I’ll get you water,” she promised. “Just hang on, okay? I need to get something to open this lock.”
She wasn’t sure how. If she couldn’t find a key, then she needed to break the lock.One thing at a time, she told herself.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” Valerio said.
“Don’tyoudo anything stupid,” she answered.
—
She moved quietly back the way she’d come—heading for the building closest to the house. At a door on the side, she tested the handle. Unlocked!
Carefully, she pulled it open and slipped quickly through the gap.
