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As I made out the hut from a few hundred yards away at the end of the vineyard, memories of the last visit came flooding back, especially of how I had woken up alone and realized with a bitter taste in my mouth that Enzo had left me alone.
For that, I could still at least poke him in the ribs today, even though it had already been a few weeks.
I looked at him skeptically from the side. Enzo had again chosen the best time for a climb – in the blazing midday sun, equipped only with a small bag containing a water bottle and a bag with a small snack.
Far too little, therefore, to get full at all.
"Will you leave me alone this time, too?" I asked provocatively, even though I was a little out of breath.
He shook his head, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. He wouldn't let me see it. "If you keep acting sassy, not only that."
"Oh yeah, what other nasty torture are you going to go through?"
"Torture is exactly the right word," he muttered thoughtfully. "I could tie you up with ropes, let you stagnate for a few hours, and then come back. I bet you'd be tame as a bunny."
"Or bite like a piranha," I returned with a growl.
At some point, this man would cost me my last nerve. The only question was how quickly it would come to that and how many nerves I had cost him.
I was happy to spend a relaxing afternoon in a place like this, but I was distraught as I was sure he had some diabolical plan that would get me into trouble.
At least that’s what I’d expect of him, thinking about everything we had done in the past few days. I could justifiably claim that from now on, I would not only be breaking laws on the net but also in reality. There must have been at least a dozen since we had started tailing the guy who had raped four women and murdered twice as many in the last twelve months.
The police had not even come close to catching him; with our combined efforts and the right contacts, it took us just five days to find out where he lived, where he worked, and what his social security number was.
I would have liked to recap our plan as far as his kidnapping was concerned, but Enzo had forbidden any work talk today and I tried to stick to it. Even though it was difficult. I just couldn't understand how he could do anything other than tail this guy – now that we were on his trail.
How long had it taken him to train this ability? Just switch off. Forget that there was a rapist and murderer at large. In principle, it was easy because if you didn't know about it, it still didn't change the fact that he existed. You just didn't have a clue.
"I know you're thinking about that guy, and I don't like it," Vincenzo promptly spoke up, interrupting my lovely musings.
I grumbled. "It's not like you're particularly talkative."
"Because we're climbing a damn hill!" he replied with a snort.
It was pure satisfaction seeing him climb today. That meant I wasn't the only one suffering.
Grinning, I smirked. "Is someone getting old?"
Vincenzo shot me a bitter look that made me laugh. I hadn't even realized until recently that he was serious about our age difference.
I didn't care about it, but it seemed to have cost him a thought or two.
"We seem to be skating on thin ice again today," he replied, quickening his pace.
"What do you actually have to prove?" I shouted after him but, of course, received no answer.
I let him take the lead, I slowed down a bit, and had no problem with the fact that I arrived at the hut twenty minutes after him.
He had already ripped open the door and window, put a bottle of wine on the table, and two matching glasses. Half of the snack was gone, so I hurried to devour the rest of the focaccia before he reappeared and claimed the rest for himself.
The sun continued to beat down on the terrace with full force, which meant that it was not a good idea to drink more than one glass of wine. Otherwise, it would probably just go to my head. Not to mention it would go to Vincenzos head too.
He may own a fair few bottles, but he wasn't a big drinker either. The result of our first drink together spoke volumes.
It took a few minutes for Vincenzo to join me, and because he put away his phone before sitting down, I knew he was probably on the phone with one of his brothers.
"Was there another important briefing?" I asked, while wiping my greasy fingers on my top.
