Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT
The attack came during a thunderstorm.
Clare was upstairs reading to Maya when the villa's lights went out.
At first, she assumed the storm had caused a power failure.
Then she heard shouting downstairs.
Marco's voice.
"Everyone stay inside!"
Clare immediately locked the bedroom door.
Maya looked up.
"Mama?"
"It's okay, sweetheart."
But Clare's heart was pounding.
She gathered Maya into her arms and moved away from the windows.
Then she remembered Leonardo.
He was sleeping in the nursery across the hall.
Clare opened the door.
The hallway was dark.
Emergency lights flickered near the staircase.
She crossed quickly.
Leonardo lay awake in his crib, watching shadows move across the ceiling.
He wasn't crying.
Clare lifted him gently.
Then she heard footsteps.
Someone was coming upstairs.
Not Dante.
Not Marco.
The footsteps were too fast.
Clare moved into the adjoining bathroom with both children and locked the door.
She called emergency services.
Then Dante.
He answered immediately.
"Clare?"
"Someone's inside."
His voice changed.
"Where are you?"
"Upstairs. With both children."
"Stay there. Police are coming."
A loud crash echoed through the hallway.
Maya began crying.
Clare held her tightly.
"It's okay."
Someone tried the bathroom door.
Once.
Twice.
Then a man's voice called, "Open up."
Clare remained silent.
The handle rattled.
Then the footsteps moved away.
Minutes later, police entered the property.
The intruders fled before officers reached the upper floor.
Nobody was seriously injured.
But the message was clear.
Someone wanted to frighten Dante through the people he loved.
When Dante reached the nursery, Clare was sitting on the floor holding both children.
Maya slept against her shoulder.
Leonardo rested in her lap.
Dante knelt.
"Are you hurt?"
Clare shook her head.
He looked at the children.
Then at her.
"I'm sorry."
She stared at him.
"Don't apologize for something someone else chose to do."
His eyes filled.
"I almost lost you."
The words hung between them.
Clare's heart began pounding.
Dante looked startled by his own confession.
Then he whispered, "I can't lose you too."
May you like
Clare reached for his hand.
"You haven't."
