Read Online Until Twilight by Desiree Holt, Cerise DeLand - Free Book Online

Come now, we are going to bed.”
    “I must call Cappi. See if he has any fingerprint matches.”
    Lane nodded. “Would he have anything at this hour of the night?”
    “You are right. It’s too late.”

    Hours later as she rolled over and the sun shone in her eyes, she reached for Lane.
    Solid, reliable, lovable Lane. Pushing aside the need to learn what time it was and what might be happening beyond their bed and their delicious affair, she rose on her elbow
    to look at him.
    Arms cast out in abandon as he lay on his back, he seemed years younger. She
    leaned down, the musk of his body an aphrodisiac she could not ignore. Her nose
    51
    Desiree Holt & Cerise DeLand
    skimming his torso, she felt one of his hands sink into her hair as he drew her close and wound his legs in hers.
    For long moments, they lay like that. Lazy, languid, liquid. His hand in her hair.
    Her lips on his chest. Her nose loving the fragrance of her lavender on his skin, his body in her bed.
    Her phone rang.
    He rose up on an elbow to glance around and try to find it for her. “Must have left
    it in the kitchen,” he murmured and left her embrace.
    Within minutes he was back to hand it to her.
    She took a quick look at the number. “Cappi,” she told him as she hit the recall
    button. A few rings later, the detective answered the phone to inform her there were no results on the prints yet. “Half an hour more,” he said, “Interpol has had a few other
    emergencies this morning.”
    “Like what?” she asked, alarmed that they might have more bombs.
    “Nothing on this case,” Cappi told her. “A problem in Bonn. Bank robbery.”
    “I see. Thank you. Call me when you know something.” She rang off and was ready
    to dial the Bargello to see if all was well there when her phone rang again.
    “ Ciao! Sì ,” she exclaimed to her caller. “Arturo! How wonderful to hear from you—
    ” she began in Italian. She was surprised he was calling her so early in the morning and about a case that was being pursued by so many law enforcement agencies.
    The minister said, “I know you have been working on these near explosions in
    Bargello and Uffizi. My staff has told me about your work.”
    “I am glad, Arturo, because—”
    “Isabella, I am leaving my house here this morning on my way into my office in
    Roma. Un momento. ” She heard him say, “ Ciao , Marta,” to his wife before returning to their conversation. “Marta sends you her love, Isabella. Now listen to me. I do not have much time, but I want you to know that I am sending a Finanza helicopter for you in
    52
    Until Twilight
    Florence. It comes within the hour. They will land at the airport, at the government
    hangar pad.”
    “Why a helicopter, Arturo?”
    “Ah, well. I have heard of what happened there yesterday and we have a new
    threat, early this morning in the Villa Borghese.”
    “A purse?” she asked. “Like the others?”
    “Sì, the same description. Exactly. Where is my driver?” he asked someone with
    him. “I told him to be here in five minutes. What has happened to him?”
    “Arturo,” Bella beseeched him, “is it an L.L. Bean purse?”
    “ Sì, sì , Bella. Where are my two bodyguards? Ah, Bella.” He sounded exasperated.
    “My staff is lazy today.”
    The hair on her arms prickled. His staff was the finest in the country. What was
    wrong? “Where are you, Arturo?”
    “About to walk out my door. Opening it now. I’m waiting for my chauffeur. Who is
    late. Why?”
    “Because—”
    “Oh, my god.”
    “What?” Bella stilled.
    “Let me see here… I now have a purse of same description in the doorway to my
    home.”
    “ What? ” She sat bolt upright on the edge of the bed.
    Lane scowled at her.
    Arturo repeated his last words.
    She could not believe what she was hearing. “ Arturo! Listen to me. Do as I say. Step away from the purse. Now. Tell anyone else who is near it to move away.”
    Lane’s eyes went wide.
    53
    Desiree Holt & Cerise