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WHEN CLARA ARRIVED at the house at ten o’clock the following morning, Gabriel said nothing of their conversation the night before. But his sudden smile told her all she needed to know. Their bags were stowed in the boot of the SUV and they headed out of London to the small airfield where DeMarco Pharmaceuticals’ private plane was waiting for them.
‘What did Mr Sullivan say about your accompanying me?’ A smile hovered around Gabriel’s lips again.
‘He said he thought you’d made a good decision.’ Clara decided to leave it at that.
‘Then we agree. I think it’s a good decision, too.’ Gabriel turned his head to look out of the car window, but even the back of his neck seemed to be smirking.
She’d travelled on a number of different aircraft, but this one had to be the most comfortable. Plenty of room, seats that could be adjusted to almost any position, and proper-sized tables to work and eat at. The stewardess offered them coffee when they boarded and an hour later a meal, which appeared to have been cooked from scratch in the small galley.
Two SUVs were waiting for them when they landed in Italy, and the team leader for Gladstone and Sullivan Securities Italian Division shook Clara’s hand and promised her every co-operation. She felt positively rested and refreshed when they reached the beach house that was Leo and Alessia DeMarco’s summer home.
Gabriel greeted his father with a handshake and his mother with a hug. Alessia DeMarco took Clara on a tour of the house, telling her that she must consider herself their guest, and Leo DeMarco remarked on how much he liked to hear English spoken with a London accent.
They were a charming, kindly couple, and Leo DeMarco not only looked like his son but his manner was much the same as Gabriel’s too. Perhaps their similarities were why they didn’t seem to get along so well. They gave every impression of being on the best of terms, but there was an underlying restraint and coolness between them.
Gabriel then took her to her room. Walking outside, he climbed the steps up to a balcony at the back of the house, which overlooked the beach and the sea beyond. Leading her through a pair of French doors and into a comfortable upstairs sitting room, he explained that her bedroom was the door on the left, and his was the door on the right.
‘Do you know where all the cameras are?’ He looked around the room.
‘I can’t see any in here. I can find out.’
Gabriel nodded conspiratorially. ‘Thanks.’
‘So... Is there anything you’d like me to do?’ The Italian team leader had made no bones about the fact that his team had everything under control.
‘Not really. If you get bored...’ He looked out of the window. ‘I suppose with that view it’s a little hard to get bored.’
‘But if I should happen to?’
‘Alistair’s given me a few reports to look over while I’m here. I’d welcome your views at some point. If you get a moment...’
‘My views. Not as a security systems specialist, I assume.’
‘No, as a paramedic.’ He had the grace to look a little sheepish. ‘Lapsed paramedic.’
‘Right. That’d be the job I gave up a while ago now.’ The one that was so irrevocably tied to Tim’s betrayal of her that it had been soured for ever.
‘I understand if you don’t feel able to do it.’ His voice was suddenly tender.
Maybe Gabriel was right, and it was time to leave the betrayal behind. This was nothing to do with Tim, and the thought that Gabriel wanted her opinion prompted a little thrill of excitement.
‘It’s all right. I’ll take a look.’
‘Perfect. Thank you.’ Gabriel turned on his heel and disappeared into his bedroom, only to reappear immediately with a thick, spiral-bound booklet. ‘This is the one I’d really like you to look at. It’s the first draft of our report on personal safety for rescue workers.’
‘You had it ready?’
‘I was just hoping you’d say yes.’
Clara rolled her eyes, and he grinned. Walking out onto the balcony and settling herself comfortably in the shade, she turned to the first page of the report and started to read.
* * *
The dream came again, because it always did on the first few nights he was back home. As if the closer he got to where Pietro had died, the easier it was for the cave to reach out and claw him back.
Gabriel sat up in bed, giving himself the same reminders he’d needed so many times before. Breathe. Wake up. Cold sweat ran down his spine and he shivered in the warmth of the night.
Then he realised. The connecting door between his bedroom and the sitting room stood open, and a dark shadow had detached itself from the others and was walking towards him. He wanted so much to hold Clara, and feel the living warmth of her body.
