Ross just stared at him.

“You are not the first, you know.”

Ross flinched.

“Oh, you thought you were special? Eliana does this every year or so. She gets bored and finds some new man. How do you call it, wanderlust? An itch.”

“You’re a liar.”

He smiled, a slim, cruel smile. “Every man thinks his love is incapable of lying to him. It is the foolishness of our gender.”

“No, you’re a liar. Eliana’s not like you. She actually has a soul.”

“Then her soul will burn in hell, no?”

“There’s been no adultery.”

“Now who is lying?” Maurizio’s expression turned still angrier. “You do not know how bad I can make things for Eliana. I can take my son from her, you know. If she sees you again, I will. I will throw her out and take my son. Then you will see how happy she is to be with you. Then you will see how important you really are to her.”

Ross was filled with rage but constrained himself. He had no doubt that Maurizio would exact any revenge on Eliana.

“You will leave Rendola and never come back. Or else you both will pay dearly. Capito?”

Ross had maintained eye contact with him the whole time, but now he looked down, his face tight with duress. “I need to get my things.”

Maurizio eyed him suspiciously then walked over to the apartment, took a key from his front trouser pocket and unlocked the door. He stepped back from it as Ross passed. “You have one hour. Then I call the police.”

Forty-five minutes later Ross came out carrying only his backpack across his shoulder. Maurizio was still outside smoking. There was a glint of triumph in his eyes.

“There’s a pasta maker and a toaster on the counter. Eliana can have them.”

“The servant will throw them away. But I’ll be sure to give Eliana your regards.”

“I’m sure you will.”

Ross walked slowly to his scooter. He stopped at the great doors of the courtyard and looked around once more. It would be his last look at Rendola, he knew it. He looked up at Eliana’s studio. He couldn’t be sure—it was dark—but he thought he saw her looking down at him. He wanted to take her, to ride off into the sunset with her. But things had changed. He balanced his pack on the back of his scooter and headed for Florence.

CHAPTER 27

“Dopo il dolce vien l’amaro.” After the sweet comes the bitter.

—Italian Proverb

It was more than two weeks from her departure that Anna returned from Genoa. Even though it was noon, Eliana was still in bed when Anna rang her doorbell. She would have let herself in, but the door was locked and dead-bolted. Eliana only opened the door enough to see out, and Anna let out a small gasp when she saw her. She had lost six pounds since her confrontation with Maurizio, and on her small frame it looked like more.