The Obsession and the Fury by Nancy Barone Wythe

them, the other men scurrying to help. The women, who in time had learned to respect the couple, circled them protectively, removing their head scarves to stem the lovers’ bleeding. Giuseppe and some other men helped to carry them upstairs into their home. It would only take a few days to heal the superficial wounds. The ones lying underneath were going to take much longer.

CHAPTER TEN

    Rea sat by Alex’s bed and gently bathed his forehead with a cool, damp cloth. His temperature had risen again. She drew back the sheet and sponge-bathed his burning skin as tears trickled down her cheeks. She had almost lost him.
    A week had passed, and she had recovered swiftly, driven by a burning desire to return to their life together. But because of Calogero, things would never be the same. Unless she did something about it, once and for all. She wanted her freedom back, but knew Calogero would have something to say about that.
    At nightfall she left Alex with two of the women who had nursed her. Wrapping a dark shawl around her shoulders and over her head to protect herself from the autumn sea winds, Rea silently slipped out into the night.
    * * * *
    Calogero was in hiding, but she knew where to find him. She waded into the sea for a few yards, then turned left and back onto a sand bar. There was a crack at the bottom of the high wall of rock. Rea got to her hands and knees and slid into it.
    A moment to catch her breath, and Calogero’s men were already on her, their hands like vices around her upper arms.
    “Bring her here,” came his familiar voice, and she was thrust upon the ground before him. In the corner burned a small oil lamp, giving off a feeble orange light.
    “Calogero, have mercy!” she cried.
    The bandit moved closer to her. “Did anyone follow you here?”
    She shook her head. “You are safe here. I will never tell anyone of your hiding place. On one condition.”
    The man threw back his head and they all laughed.
    “And what’s that, my little prickly pear?”
    “That you let the American live.”
    More laughter.
    “Why did you come back after all these years?” she cried suddenly, unable to retain her frustration and pain.
    “For you, of course. You are my woman.”
    Rea squared her shoulders, and Calogero’s eyes registered the movement of her breasts beneath her thin dress. When she spoke, her voice was low and husky.
    “Yes, I am, Calogero. And I’ve learned many tricks during these past years…”
    Calogero eyes swung to his men briefly, then over her body. “Sì…?”
    “Sì,” she whispered, shivering as he swallowed.
    * * * *
    “Rea. Where is she?” Alex demanded of Giuseppe that was sitting at his bedside.
    “I don’t know. Donna Maria said she left at nightfall.”
    With great effort, Alex swung his legs over the side of the bed, the sheets around him once again drenched in perspiration. As his head pounded and spun, he reached into the wardrobe for a clean shirt and threw it on his back, not bothering to button it.
    “Where are you going to look?” Giuseppe asked.
    “Everywhere,” Alex muttered as he yanked on the rope connected to the front door at the bottom of the stairs. It swung open with a soft creak, revealing the darkness of the night. Somewhere Rea was walking, a sitting duck for Calogero and his men.
    * * * *
    “Alfio, Luigi, go take a walk. A long walk.”
    “But Calogero-”
    “I’ll be fine. My little lady here wants to show me some new tricks.”
    Filthy smiles spread across the dirt-smeared faces of the two delinquents and Rea shuddered. In a way she was glad that Calogero was there. He would never let them touch her. It was a matter of power, and he was the leader of the pack.
    “Come here,” he commanded, his voice husky, his eyes already hooded. It would be simpler than she thought.
    Rea stood before him and, shivering with revulsion, wrapped her arms around his neck as all the lurid memories came back, threatening to choke her. With a sudden movement,