there is something wrong with the lines today. The intercept system on the phones at the office must have gone out for a few minutes. Or maybe they just missed the call. It could have rang in Amadeo's office for any reason. Even a crossed wire.
But why would they do that to me? Oh, God, Bernardo' . She closed her eyes and leaned her head back on her pillows for a moment And poor Luisa.
Never mind Luisa.
I'll go to see her in a few minutes. I just thought
So did I. I thought this was for real, Isabella. And what if one day it is? What if someone takes him too? He stared at her mercilessly as she closed her eyes and shook her head.
Don't say that.
What will you do? Add another dozen guards to the retinue? Build a fortress just for you and the boy? Have a heart attack the next time you get a crank call?
I'm not old enough to have a heart attack. She looked at him bleakly with an attempt at a smile, but Bernardo did not return it.
You can't live like this any longer. And don't make me speeches about what you're doing for Amadeo, about taking his place. If he knew what you were doing, how you were living, locked in, here, in the office, keeping the child locked up. If he knew the risks you're taking with that boy just by continuing to live in Rome, he would kill you, Isabella. You know it yourself. Don't you dare ever try to justify this by telling me that you're doing it all for him. Amadeo would never forgive you. And maybe one day neither will Alessandro. You are giving him a childhood of terror, not to mention what you're doing to yourself. How dare you! How dare you! Bernardo's voice had risen steadily as he spoke. He stalked around the room, turning to glare at her, waving his hands. He ran one hand through his hair and then sat down again, regretting his own outburst, prepared for Isabella's wrath. But as he looked at her he was stunned to realize that this time Isabella hadn't told him to go to hell. She hadn't invoked the sacred name of Amadeo, hadn't told him that she knew she was right.
What do you think I should do? Run away? Leave Rome? Hide for the rest of my life? she said. But there was no sarcasm this time. Only the shadow of the terror she had just felt again.
You don't need to hide for the rest of your life. But maybe you have to do something like that for a while.
And then what? Bernardo, how can I? She sounded like a frightened, tired, little girl. Gently Bernardo reached for her hand.
You have to, Isabella. You have no choice. They'll drive you mad if you stay here. Go away. For six months, a year. We'll work it out. We can communicate. You can give me orders, instructions, ulcers, anything, but don't stay here. For God's sake, don't stay here. I couldn't bear it if' . He shocked them both by dropping his head into his hands. He was crying. ' if something happened to Alessandro or to you. He looked up at her then, the tears still flowing from his blue eyes. You're like my sister. Amadeo was my best friend. For God's sake. Go away.
Where?
You could go to Paris.
There's nothing there for me anymore. Everyone's gone. My grandfather, my parents. And if these people can do this to me here, they'll do it to me just as easily in France. Why can't I just find a secluded place in the country here, maybe not that far from Rome? If no one knows where I am, it would be the same thing.
But Bernardo looked at her angrily now. Don't start playing games. Get out, dammit! Now! Go somewhere. Anywhere. Not ten minutes out of Rome, not in Milano, in Florence. Get the hell out!
What are you suggesting? New York? She had said it sarcastically, but the moment she had said it, she knew, and so did he. She paused for a long moment, thinking, as he watched her, hoping, praying. Silently she nodded yes. She looked at him soberly, thinking it all out, and then slowly she got up from her bed and walked to the phone.
What are you doing?
The look in her eyes said that she wasn't beaten, that she hadn't given up. That
But why would they do that to me? Oh, God, Bernardo' . She closed her eyes and leaned her head back on her pillows for a moment And poor Luisa.
Never mind Luisa.
I'll go to see her in a few minutes. I just thought
So did I. I thought this was for real, Isabella. And what if one day it is? What if someone takes him too? He stared at her mercilessly as she closed her eyes and shook her head.
Don't say that.
What will you do? Add another dozen guards to the retinue? Build a fortress just for you and the boy? Have a heart attack the next time you get a crank call?
I'm not old enough to have a heart attack. She looked at him bleakly with an attempt at a smile, but Bernardo did not return it.
You can't live like this any longer. And don't make me speeches about what you're doing for Amadeo, about taking his place. If he knew what you were doing, how you were living, locked in, here, in the office, keeping the child locked up. If he knew the risks you're taking with that boy just by continuing to live in Rome, he would kill you, Isabella. You know it yourself. Don't you dare ever try to justify this by telling me that you're doing it all for him. Amadeo would never forgive you. And maybe one day neither will Alessandro. You are giving him a childhood of terror, not to mention what you're doing to yourself. How dare you! How dare you! Bernardo's voice had risen steadily as he spoke. He stalked around the room, turning to glare at her, waving his hands. He ran one hand through his hair and then sat down again, regretting his own outburst, prepared for Isabella's wrath. But as he looked at her he was stunned to realize that this time Isabella hadn't told him to go to hell. She hadn't invoked the sacred name of Amadeo, hadn't told him that she knew she was right.
What do you think I should do? Run away? Leave Rome? Hide for the rest of my life? she said. But there was no sarcasm this time. Only the shadow of the terror she had just felt again.
You don't need to hide for the rest of your life. But maybe you have to do something like that for a while.
And then what? Bernardo, how can I? She sounded like a frightened, tired, little girl. Gently Bernardo reached for her hand.
You have to, Isabella. You have no choice. They'll drive you mad if you stay here. Go away. For six months, a year. We'll work it out. We can communicate. You can give me orders, instructions, ulcers, anything, but don't stay here. For God's sake, don't stay here. I couldn't bear it if' . He shocked them both by dropping his head into his hands. He was crying. ' if something happened to Alessandro or to you. He looked up at her then, the tears still flowing from his blue eyes. You're like my sister. Amadeo was my best friend. For God's sake. Go away.
Where?
You could go to Paris.
There's nothing there for me anymore. Everyone's gone. My grandfather, my parents. And if these people can do this to me here, they'll do it to me just as easily in France. Why can't I just find a secluded place in the country here, maybe not that far from Rome? If no one knows where I am, it would be the same thing.
But Bernardo looked at her angrily now. Don't start playing games. Get out, dammit! Now! Go somewhere. Anywhere. Not ten minutes out of Rome, not in Milano, in Florence. Get the hell out!
What are you suggesting? New York? She had said it sarcastically, but the moment she had said it, she knew, and so did he. She paused for a long moment, thinking, as he watched her, hoping, praying. Silently she nodded yes. She looked at him soberly, thinking it all out, and then slowly she got up from her bed and walked to the phone.
What are you doing?
The look in her eyes said that she wasn't beaten, that she hadn't given up. That
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