I glanced over my shoulder atPapito find him grinding his jaw. “It was him. Why aren’t you listening?”
“I am,” Marrone said with a calmness that came with years working under pressure. He clearly wasn’t going to let my father rattle him. “But it’s important I get all the facts.”
“The fact is Santino Buccini is stalking my daughter. That should be enough for you to take this seriously.”
“Believe me, Mayor. I’m taking this very seriously.” His eyes flicked back to me, and he offered a supportive smile, but it didn’t help me feel any less like an idiot. I knew how this all sounded. Every time I opened my mouth, more ridiculousness poured out. “How would you describe your relationship with Santino Buccini?”
My eyes widened, and sweat beaded on my skin. How the hell was I supposed to answer that when I didn’t even know myself? I wanted to throw multiple adjectives at him to make him understand. Confusing. Addictive. Thrilling. Infuriating. But I knew that wasn’t what he meant.
“Um—”
“There is no relationship,” my father argued. “He’s her stalker, and she’s innocent!”
Heat flushed across my cheeks as I dipped my head. I could feel the commissioner studying me, which only deepened the blush.
“SignorinaCaruso?”
“Um–at first, I’d say it was… or, it had the potential to be romantic,” I whispered. My father froze behind me, so I quickly continued. “But that was before I realised my father’s concerns about him. Then I told him I wasn’t interested and tostay away from me.”
“Okay.” Marrone nodded. “And how many times since then has he shown up at your work or home?”
“Um,” I looked up at the ceiling. “Twice. I think.”
He glanced down at the notepad he held in his hands, then looked back up at me. “And are you afraid of him? Do you feel unsafe?”
The sensible voice in my head told me to say yes. Because I should be afraid of him, right? My father feared him for a reason. All of this was for a reason. But when faced with that question, the truth was… at this moment in time, I wasn’t afraid of him. I didn’t believe he’d actually cause me any harm.
“Aria?” Mypapiplaced his hands on the back of the sofa behind me, leaning down. “Answer the commissioner.”
“I-I don’t know,” I confessed, rubbing my temples. “Look, I know how this looks and sounds, officer. He’s given me a massage, brought me food at work, ran me a bubble bath, and all our meetings could have been coincidences, but I have told him to stay away from me, and he’s not listening. I don’t know what more I can do.”
The police officer closed his notepad and picked up his recording device from the table. “Unless the surveillance footage shows his entry into the building or apartment, or you find those text messages, I don’t think there’s enough evidence to file a petition for a civil protection order in court. But even without evidence, we can still file based on your statement, if you wish.”
“I–um,” I avoided looking at mypapias I squeezed my hands together nervously. “Can I think about it?”
The grunt of disapproval from my father was enough to make me sink lower into the chair.
“Of course. And in the meantime, if you feel threatened orSignorBuccini’s unwanted behaviour continues, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us straight away,Signorina. Because of the nature of stalking in your statement, I will issue a verbal warning toSignorBuccini this evening.”
“I will.” I nodded, standing up. “Thank you, officer.”
Once the police had gone, I looked at mypapi, who was already staring at me with so much disappointment that I wanted to curl up into a ball.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you everything.”
“Aria.” He stormed forward and grasped my shoulders. “I understand why you didn’t tell me. You were embarrassed because he played you. But sweetheart, you need to wake up. You’re not afraid of him because scaring you wasn’t his aim. Seducing you was. But now, I fear we’ve awakened a beast.”
I swallowed hard. For the first time, genuine fear skated down my spine. Shit, that made sense. I was safer while he was trying to seduce me. Now, he’ll be pissed.
“Call in sick to work tonight. I’ll ring Damiano and let him know you won’t be going in.”
I nodded, sinking back onto the sofa to let him take control because I wasn’t sure working tonight was the best idea, anyway. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything.
“That’s strange. He’s not answering.”
“Maybe he’s sleeping. He did do last night’s shift with me,” I said, yawning myself.
“That doesn’t matter,”Papireplied. “He knows it’s his job to be available whenever necessary.” He tried calling him again, but there was still no answer. “Cazzo.I have back-to-back meetings all day and a chamber dinner this evening.” He glanced at me. “Are you really going to be stubborn about leaving this place? I don’t want you in here alone.”
