Chapter 1
- My head blows, Sara. I'm going home! -
Nina did not wait for a reply from her friend. She couldn't take it anymore.
On that evening the place seemed noisier than usual. Music thundered in her brain and the stench of sweat mixed with beer was making her sick from migraines.
On that evening the place seemed noisier than usual. Music thundered in her brain and the stench of sweat mixed with beer was making her sick from migraines.
As she retrieved the bag she watched Sara give her a distracted wave of greeting. She was so busy flirting with the new bartender that she didn't pay her any attention.
In any case, Nina was not surprised at all.
Her friend always did this: when she spotted a new and succulent prey, she would attack like a lioness of the savannah.
She was sure they would have sex that night, but it was also almost mathematical that the next day Sara wouldn't even remember his name...
Her friend always did this: when she spotted a new and succulent prey, she would attack like a lioness of the savannah.
She was sure they would have sex that night, but it was also almost mathematical that the next day Sara wouldn't even remember his name...
Provided that she bent on asking him!
Once on the street, however, Nina pushed back her anxieties and took a deep breath of the crisp October air.
She loved the smells of her city.
She turned her gaze to the sky and closed her eyes to enjoy the sense of relief provided by the small droplets of rain as they slowly slide across her face.
She loved the smells of her city.
She turned her gaze to the sky and closed her eyes to enjoy the sense of relief provided by the small droplets of rain as they slowly slide across her face.
Anzio was asleep at that hour.
Nina sighed thinking that in the summer, at that same time, every street was still bursting with people.
She liked it. She was crazy about the constant scent of frying that rose from the fireplaces of the restaurants, she loved walking among the tourists, watching the shows of the street artists in the main square...
Nina sighed thinking that in the summer, at that same time, every street was still bursting with people.
She liked it. She was crazy about the constant scent of frying that rose from the fireplaces of the restaurants, she loved walking among the tourists, watching the shows of the street artists in the main square...
But nothing was more powerful than the sense of belonging that winter gave her back.
She felt herself the mistress of the city.
She felt herself the mistress of the city.
She opened her eyes again when she realized the increasing rain and annoyed she rummaged inside her bag for the umbrella.
A little sorry, she opened it and calmly walked home. She would have liked to go along the promenade like every evening when she felt too uneasy; it relaxed her. But a glance at the fiery red sky was enough to give up and at the same time accelerate her pace.
A little sorry, she opened it and calmly walked home. She would have liked to go along the promenade like every evening when she felt too uneasy; it relaxed her. But a glance at the fiery red sky was enough to give up and at the same time accelerate her pace.
For a hundred meters, the only sounds around her were those of her shoes in contact with the wet cobblestones and the ticking of the rain on her umbrella, and she was about to turn the corner that led to the square when a rustle behind her he had it nailed in place.
Nina whirled around, but saw no one. She listened for a few seconds, sure she heard something and finally swallowed, took courage and took two steps towards the shadowy point from which the noise was coming.
She knew she had probably been paranoid for some time, but she had had the weird feeling of being followed for days.
She knew she had probably been paranoid for some time, but she had had the weird feeling of being followed for days.
She didn't think she had anything to fear, but ... given the context in which she grew up she had learned to watch her back and as much as possible to always be ready to react.
However, that did not seem to be the case. There was not anything. But just as she was turning to retrace her steps, a sudden movement behind a stack of cartons made her heart jump. She watched them fall to the ground and was about to run to the other side when the culprit jumped out.
Nina burst into hysterical laughter as she watched the cat splash beside her with all its shaggy fur. He thought he was more scared than she was.
However, that did not seem to be the case. There was not anything. But just as she was turning to retrace her steps, a sudden movement behind a stack of cartons made her heart jump. She watched them fall to the ground and was about to run to the other side when the culprit jumped out.
Nina burst into hysterical laughter as she watched the cat splash beside her with all its shaggy fur. He thought he was more scared than she was.
- But what did you think you would find inside the boxes of an underwear store? - she yelled after him, then heaving a big sigh of relief.
Nina called herself an idiot. It was just too tense.
Liam hadn't been in touch all day, and worry had made her headache explode.
She would have done well to stay at home, but Sara had insisted so much that in the end, if only to stop giving her the torment, she had satisfied her.
She started walking again and was forced to accelerate because, as she had imagined, the light drizzle was turning into a real downpour and she cursed herself for having decided to go out on foot. It was already soaking wet.
Liam hadn't been in touch all day, and worry had made her headache explode.
She would have done well to stay at home, but Sara had insisted so much that in the end, if only to stop giving her the torment, she had satisfied her.
She started walking again and was forced to accelerate because, as she had imagined, the light drizzle was turning into a real downpour and she cursed herself for having decided to go out on foot. It was already soaking wet.
She was now about to take her way home when a spectacular bolt of lightning lit the sky above her head, and the ensuing thunder prevented her from hearing the sound of swift footsteps pointing straight in her direction.
For this reason she found herself undergoing the second heart attack within a few minutes and it happened when, out of nowhere, in her ear, an unknown male voice came, warm, but above all ... very close.
- So I can? -
For this reason she found herself undergoing the second heart attack within a few minutes and it happened when, out of nowhere, in her ear, an unknown male voice came, warm, but above all ... very close.
- So I can? -
Nina was petrified. Next to her had appeared a boy drenched from head to toe, who with two eyes as dark and impenetrable as the night, stared at her questioningly.
He ... He stared at her questioningly!
They were standing in the middle of the road in a storm, both hunched under his tiny red umbrella.
He ... He stared at her questioningly!
They were standing in the middle of the road in a storm, both hunched under his tiny red umbrella.
He who kept looking at her as if waiting for some kind of response and she who could only return his gaze. Too incredulous about the bizarre situation to be able to reply.
And then what should I answer? What's the question? Where did this one come from?
And then what should I answer? What's the question? Where did this one come from?
But in all of this, the strangest factor, if any, was that Nina wasn't feeling even a hint of fear. This destabilized her for a moment, because given the circumstance it should have been the other way around.
- Sorry, but are you deaf? - he asked again, hinting at a half smile.
- Sorry, but are you deaf? - he asked again, hinting at a half smile.
Nina looked at him absorbed. He didn't seem dangerous and he certainly wasn't a fool ... or at least he hoped so!
It smelled good, made even more intense by the rain. It tasted clean. He knew he...
It smelled good, made even more intense by the rain. It tasted clean. He knew he...
What the hell am I going to think? The scent?
- I feel great! But who are you, and what are you doing under my umbrella? - She then replied angrily, without however being able to take her eyes off his amused gaze.
- I wouldn't say, I called you three times. I recommend a check. - the mysterious boy continued to insist, crossing his arms over his chest.
- I wouldn't say, I called you three times. I recommend a check. - the mysterious boy continued to insist, crossing his arms over his chest.
Nina thought about the grotesque situation she was in in those moments.
And he laughed imagining her from the outside: two idiots motionless under a crazy storm, with the girl holding an umbrella too small to shelter both of them and he, with his back bent to enter, staring at her with his arms crossed in an obvious attempt not to burst out laughing in her face.
And he laughed imagining her from the outside: two idiots motionless under a crazy storm, with the girl holding an umbrella too small to shelter both of them and he, with his back bent to enter, staring at her with his arms crossed in an obvious attempt not to burst out laughing in her face.
- There's a storm in case you didn't notice. That's why I didn't hear you. - she justified herself, after coming to her senses. - Now tell me who you are and what you want? I warn you: I have no money with me and I have a particularly sensitive brother. Evaluate your next move well! -
After a moment Nina was stunned. Again.
He had burst out laughing; but to laugh out loud. And what was even more absurd was that she did the same.
After a moment Nina was stunned. Again.
He had burst out laughing; but to laugh out loud. And what was even more absurd was that she did the same.
While she was trying to get serious she thought she had exaggerated in reproaching him: if he wanted to hurt her, she estimated, she would have had all the time, especially since she hadn't even heard him coming.
She watched him as, still with tears in his eyes, he rummaged inside the pockets of his black jeans. She watched him take out a pack of cigarettes, put one to his mouth, and then offer one to her too.
Nina raised both eyebrows and gestured to their location.
- But do you think it is the case? What do I know, do you want a beer too? Go ahead ... there is so much space! -
Nina raised both eyebrows and gestured to their location.
- But do you think it is the case? What do I know, do you want a beer too? Go ahead ... there is so much space! -
His answer was not long in coming.
- You're crazy! -
He smiled at her, blowing a thin cloud of smoke across her face. - I'm Riccardo, nice to meet you. -
- You're crazy! -
He smiled at her, blowing a thin cloud of smoke across her face. - I'm Riccardo, nice to meet you. -
He held out his free hand from the cigarette and she squeezed it after a moment's hesitation. He seemed to notice her restlessness, so much so that after showing off another one of his smiles, he hastened to clarify: - I was calling you simply to ask you for a lift under the umbrella. I forgot my house keys at work and on my way back it started to rain. That's all! I'm not a snatcher nor a rapist, you can go back to muzzle your brother. -
God, what a figure! Especially since I was no longer even thinking about the dangerous note of this encounter from the moment his smell...
- O-okay! - Nina cleared her throat, embarrassed by the strange turn of her thoughts. She looked away. - But I'm almost there, where do you live? - she asked him, starting to walk again.
- At the beginning of the seafront, basically on the other side of Anzio. Don't worry, come on ... a little water won't kill me. - he replied, a little disappointed.
- At the beginning of the seafront, basically on the other side of Anzio. Don't worry, come on ... a little water won't kill me. - he replied, a little disappointed.
- If you come up to my door then I'll give you an umbrella, I certainly don't want to have you on my conscience! - she exclaimed, amused, looking at him sideways.
He returned her gaze, narrowed his eyelids and threw the cigarette to the ground.
- But then you also know how to be kind! -
He returned her gaze, narrowed his eyelids and threw the cigarette to the ground.
- But then you also know how to be kind! -
Nina didn't answer. There was something in his eyes that was able to put her in awe.
It was he who spoke again, and he did so as he removed the umbrella handle from her hands and put his arm around her shoulders.
- Okay, but... I'm driving. Otherwise you will have me on your conscience for the back pain with which I will wake up tomorrow. -
It was he who spoke again, and he did so as he removed the umbrella handle from her hands and put his arm around her shoulders.
- Okay, but... I'm driving. Otherwise you will have me on your conscience for the back pain with which I will wake up tomorrow. -
That contact had made her stiffen like a fifteen-year-old at the first approach and in her heart she hoped he hadn't noticed.
She knew that this gesture had no malicious purpose, Riccardo had done it just for convenience, but his proximity was causing something unexpected. Something Nina wasn't quite sure how to define.
A feeling ... pleasant. Too much.
She knew that this gesture had no malicious purpose, Riccardo had done it just for convenience, but his proximity was causing something unexpected. Something Nina wasn't quite sure how to define.
A feeling ... pleasant. Too much.
- What is your name instead? - he asked her after a few moments, interrupting once again the dangerous path that her thoughts had taken.
- Nina. - she replied, before gesturing to him to turn left.
- Nina. - she replied, before gesturing to him to turn left.
- What is the diminutive of ...? -
She smiled and looked at him out of the corner of her eye. - I'm Nina and that's it. -
She watched him weigh his answer. He wasn't the first to ask him, but he was the first not to go into other useless remarks like: what a particular name. Oh, but then you're a foreigner. Isn't your name Pasqualina?
She smiled and looked at him out of the corner of her eye. - I'm Nina and that's it. -
She watched him weigh his answer. He wasn't the first to ask him, but he was the first not to go into other useless remarks like: what a particular name. Oh, but then you're a foreigner. Isn't your name Pasqualina?
- Where did you go all alone on a Wednesday night? -
- I was at the Village Pub with a friend, but she found company and so I took the opportunity to leave. - she replied shrugging.
- I was at the Village Pub with a friend, but she found company and so I took the opportunity to leave. - she replied shrugging.
He looked at her. - Did you take advantage of it? So you weren't having fun. -
- Not very much. When there is this bad weather I like to stay at home, in my bed, enjoying it under the covers... -
- Not very much. When there is this bad weather I like to stay at home, in my bed, enjoying it under the covers... -
What the fuck am I saying? To a stranger! Could misinterpret ...
- Me too. - he promptly replied, giving her what seemed to all intents and purposes an allusive look.
- Me too. - he promptly replied, giving her what seemed to all intents and purposes an allusive look.
Nina pretended not to understand, but instinctively quickened her pace again until she caught a glimpse of the front door.
He pointed it out to him, quickly broke free from his embrace and walked away to take shelter under the canopy.
He had been standing on the sidewalk. He seemed amused.
He pointed it out to him, quickly broke free from his embrace and walked away to take shelter under the canopy.
He had been standing on the sidewalk. He seemed amused.
Nina took advantage of the distance and the yellow light from the street lamp to get a better look at him. Now that his back was in a natural position, she realized how tall he was, maybe a foot taller than her, and his hair was as dark as his eyes. He seemed trained; the lean physique, the broad shoulders… maybe that was why, she thought, she had felt that sense of security when he had held her close as they walked.
She found herself swallowing when she realized that he too was looking at her. She felt terribly uncomfortable, not least because she realized she was very badly dressed.
She had come out so listless that she put on the first things that had happened to her: a pair of black leggings, worn red converse ... and luckily the parka hid the old Guns N 'Roses sweatshirt with which she sometimes even went to sleep .
In practice, she seemed to have prepared herself for a Zumba class rather than a night at the pub, and her very tight ponytail confirmed it too.
Really sexy... congratulations to me!
She had come out so listless that she put on the first things that had happened to her: a pair of black leggings, worn red converse ... and luckily the parka hid the old Guns N 'Roses sweatshirt with which she sometimes even went to sleep .
In practice, she seemed to have prepared herself for a Zumba class rather than a night at the pub, and her very tight ponytail confirmed it too.
Really sexy... congratulations to me!
- You're deaf again ... don't take it badly, but if you want I can recommend a really good specialist. -
Nina winced and even though she couldn't see each other, she was sure she had gone red.
- Sorry, I was lost in thought... what did you say? - Asked with feigned nonchalance, but carrying the weight from foot to foot after slipping his hands into the pockets of his jacket.
Nina winced and even though she couldn't see each other, she was sure she had gone red.
- Sorry, I was lost in thought... what did you say? - Asked with feigned nonchalance, but carrying the weight from foot to foot after slipping his hands into the pockets of his jacket.
Riccardo smiled and through a slight hint of beard she could make out what looked like a dimple on the right side of his face.
Shit! The dimple no! It looks like the chapter of a book for teenagers where the boy as handsome as an actor stretches out the loser on duty with his white smile and that mysterious aura that hovers in his impenetrable eyes.
- I was thanking you for the ride and ... nothing, I hope to see you around again... -
Shit! The dimple no! It looks like the chapter of a book for teenagers where the boy as handsome as an actor stretches out the loser on duty with his white smile and that mysterious aura that hovers in his impenetrable eyes.
- I was thanking you for the ride and ... nothing, I hope to see you around again... -
- That's for sure, you have to give me the umbrella back. - She tried to joke, while too vehemently she searched for the keys in her purse. As soon as she found them she immediately took advantage of it to turn her back on him, and trying not to appear too clumsy she slipped them into the lock.
She turned to look at him over her shoulder.
She turned to look at him over her shoulder.
He was still there. And he was staring at her.
There was no longer a trace of irony in his eyes and this put her even more in awe.
There was no longer a trace of irony in his eyes and this put her even more in awe.
She then waved a quick greeting and walked through the door. She then found herself sliding her back along the inner wall to catch her breath. She had just had time to see him respond with a nod of the head and even that banal gesture had stirred something incomprehensible inside her.
What the fuck happened to me?
Determined to get those two probing eyes out of her head, still confused by that strange encounter and after straightening up, she went up the steps until she reached the door of her apartment.
Once inside, however, she dropped the bag on the sofa and as she took off the jacket she crossed the hall to reach the window.
Determined to get those two probing eyes out of her head, still confused by that strange encounter and after straightening up, she went up the steps until she reached the door of her apartment.
Once inside, however, she dropped the bag on the sofa and as she took off the jacket she crossed the hall to reach the window.
Nina couldn't hold back a laugh when she saw a big boy calmly walk away with a small red umbrella over his head. His walk was smooth and she almost thought she could hear him whistling.
She followed him with her eyes until the ringing of the phone forced her to move away from the window. She ran to the sofa and pulled it out of her bag.
Liam ...
She followed him with her eyes until the ringing of the phone forced her to move away from the window. She ran to the sofa and pulled it out of her bag.
Liam ...
