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“What do you mean? Aren’t we getting in one of those little tram thingys in the sky?” OK, I was drunk. I giggled at my words and Luca smirked.
“No bella, they are shut now. We have to walk to the bottom and then get a taxi.”
My face scrunched up in annoyance as I stopped walking and pulled my hand out of his. He turned and looked amused by my face.
“My name is not Bella. It’s Liv. Have you forgotten?” I hissed at him and he burst out laughing.
“No. I have not forgotten. How could I forget your name? Bella means beautiful in my language.”
Oh. Suddenly, a memory of Giovanni calling me that once sprang to mind and those butterflies were back.
“Oh. Well, I will let you off then,” I said, stumbling towards him again.
“Okay,” he smiled, placing my arm in the crook of his. We staggered awkwardly down the hill which was so steep and uneven as well as pitch black. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of our feet on the ground and the owls or were they bats in the trees?
I glanced up as Luca was telling me about a time he had visited England as a child and I saw a dark, broad figure approaching us up the hill. I narrowed my eyes but I couldn’t see his face clearly. He was still too far away. His hands were inside the front pocket of a hoodie and the hood was over his head. I instantly looked down at the ground as I got a bad feeling about this guy. My immediate panic was that it was Henry. Coming to get me. But that was absurd. Luca seemed oblivious as he continued to ramble on about Big Ben.
I glanced back up as the man was only a metre away and he lifted his face to stare at mine. He looked menacing. Cold blue eyes and a scar on his left cheek.
He suddenly stopped in front of us and yelled something aggressively in Italian. Luca froze and his eyes were wide with fear. I looked from him to the man.
“Give him your bag, Liv,” Luca whispered, the terror making his voice tremble. I narrowed my eyes and frowned.
“What! No!” I shouted. The man stepped forward and shouted in Luca’s face again and Luca started rummaging in his pockets, passing him his wallet and phone.
The man turned and set his intimidating gaze on me. I swallowed. “Give him your bag Liv, and he will leave us alone.”
I clutched my handbag under my arm tighter, which made the man hiss. Suddenly, I remembered that I hadn't taken out all of my belongings after work today. The Buccini keys to the mansion were in there, as well as the iPhone with Giovanni and Cecilia’s numbers and the Mulberry purse with credit cards. Fuck! I could not handle all of that low life scum.
“Liv!” Luca shouted as the man reached for my bag and tried to tug it from my shoulder. I fought against him, resulting in a tug of war and Luca tried to push the man off me. The mugger turned and head-butted Luca on the nose, causing him to fall backwards in agony. I saw red. I knew it was probably the alcohol that was making me believe I could take on a man who could easily crush me with his bare hands, but I clenched my fist and sent it flying into the man's face. He stumbled back but the look of rage that now took over his vile features made me scream. The next thing I knew, a brutal force connected with the side of my face and I fell to the ground. I was vaguely aware of the man grabbing my bag and the sound of his shoes on the dirt track, running away.
“Liv! Liv! Cazzo! Are you alright?” Luca ran over to me and pulled me up to a sitting position as he assessed my face. He had blood trickling out his nose and as I licked my lips, I tasted my own. Ow.
“That asshole hit me!” I growled and lifted my hand to my face, which was stinging like crazy. My lip was bleeding but I don’t think too much damage was done, although from the look on Luca’s concerned face, I wasn't so sure.
“Why did you not give the bag Liv?” he shouted, annoyed at me.
“Shit! The Bag! He’s got it! Oh fuck! Oh no, I am in so much trouble!” I pulled myself up to my feet and looked around frantically.
“It is only a bag. Things can be replaced. You cannot,” Luca tried to soothe my obvious anxiety.
“No! You don’t understand. It had very important things in it! It had the security keys to the Buccini mansion!”
Luca’s face paled slightly and his eyes widened. Yep. Now he understands.
“I have to go there! I have to warn them!”
“Now?” he shouted in disbelief.
I started to storm down the hill. “Where are we? Are we near the Buccini mansion?”
“It’s about ten minutes that way,” he pointed to the left, and I started to jog. He easily caught up with me and tried to grab my arm.
“Liv. You need to get checked over first. We both do. Tell them tomorrow.”
I shook my head. If that man got into their house and did anything to those kids, it would be all my fault. I knew I would probably be fired over this. Oh yes, Cecilia will have my head and God knows what Giovanni will do, but I couldn’t worry about that right now.
Sensing he wouldn’t be able to change my mind, Luca remained silent, walking behind me as we approached the iron gates of the mansion. I pressed the intercom buzzer and waited. I could see two bulky men in black standing just inside the gates with guns strapped across their chests. It didn't even bother me anymore. I was used to it. Luca, on the other hand, looked like he was about to shit his pants.
