‘Alberto has offered his support, financial or otherwise, if we need anything. And Petunia and co will be here tomorrow,prima dell’alba,’ Matthew said when they finally made it to bed that night. Twenty-four hours had passed since the fire tore through their plans in Assisi, yet it somehow felt like a lifetime ago.
Sarah’s fatigued and emotional mind performed its best possible translation under the circumstances. ‘Before the dawn?’
As Matthew’s head hit the pillow, he sighed. ‘When else with her?’
‘At least we can get this ball rolling.’
‘We can call Emanuela tomorrow and deal with that mess once we have an idea of what we need to do.’
Sarah snuggled her way into Matthew’s arms and rested against his chest, enjoying the comforting familiarity of his smell.
Just as they had committed to sleep, there was a knock on La Viola’s front door.
‘You have got to be fucking joking,’ Matthew moaned.
‘Why? Just . . . why?’ Sarah looked at the time, then wriggled completely under the covers. ‘It’s past eleven. Let us sleep, people! We can’t take anymore shit today.’
Matthew got up and peered through one of the bedroom windows. There, pacing back and forth in the dark, intermittently staring up at the building then scribbling notes on a pad, was the last person Matthew wanted to deal with.
‘For fuck’s sake. It’s Saverio.’
Matthew’s mind suddenly flicked back to the cigar butt and he was filled with a frustration so profound, he felt he might spontaneously self-combust. There was no point in challenging him on it. It was shaky legal ground, and Matthew wasn’t as mentally sharp as he needed to be for a quick-witted, sharp-tongued duel.
Sarah jumped from the bed. ‘Let me deal with him.’
‘No, Sarah.’
‘Don’t even try to stop me.’ She wrapped a cardigan over her shoulders and left the room, leaving Matthew to listen, hidden from view around the side of the entrance hall.
Sarah opened the door and feigned surprise. ‘Saverio? At this hour? We’re fine, thanks for coming to check-up on us.’ She went to close the door on him.
‘Signora D’Adamo,’ he started, reaching out to catch the door handle. ‘I was just checking that things were in order here. Many apologies for the time, of course, but it has been a very busy day.’
It grated at Matthew that Saverio hadn’t challenged Sarah on the clear omission of his formal title. His eyes narrowed to furious slits.
‘Perhaps we could have this conversation in the morning? At a more reasonable hour? We’ve had a very emotional and difficult day. Thank you for your understanding.’ She attempted again to pull the door closed, but Saverio had shunted a foot in place to catch it.
‘I need just a moment of your time.’
‘AndIjust need to sleep.’
Saverio ran his eyes over Sarah in her pyjamas and she pulled her cardigan closed over her chest. ‘Just a moment, I assure you. Regarding the fire, it’s critical that the damaged . . . area . . . is cleared as soon as possible. This is to reduce possible further environmental impact on neighbouring—’
‘Tell me what it is you need, Saverio.’
He gave a curt smile, then said, ‘The barn. Clear it. As soon as possible.’
‘I never told you we lost the barn.’
‘It is my job, Signora D’Adamo, to know everything there is to know about what happens in Fiorellino.’
‘I appreciate that, but this is private property.’ She gave him a casual wave of the hand, and Saverio reached across and forcefully grabbed her wrist.
‘The barn. It will be gone by midnight tomorrow.’
‘Or else what?’ She glared up at him, unafraid of the menacing glint to his eyes just inches from hers. She twisted her wrist, releasing his hold.
‘“Else” you will be in breach of the environmental protection legislation I have put in place to protect our community, and your business licence will be terminated, effective immediately. That would take weeks to reobtain, and would render your little party—’
