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Reer than she should have, just to be sure Bruno saw her turn the corner Keeping to the middle of the street, where she wouldn’t bethe fashions displayed in the s of the designer stores Finally, she reached the piazza, turning left toward the Fontana della Barcaccia, only then realizing the bigger danger: disappearing into theabout the boat-shaped fountain and gravitating toward the very steps she needed to get to If Bruno lost sight of her, heback to the car—and Sam

Soh for hiht of her But as soon as she found a corridor between people to run through, the croarap Frustrated, Reainst it, pretending to be out of breath, waiting for hi to appear frightened, and darted into the piazza, running toward the Spanish Steps The one hundred and thirty-five steep stairs, built in 1723, led up to the Trinità dei Monti Church, and the street that paralleled it, where she hoped Sa with the car

She burst out of the crowd and across the piazza, glancing back to make sure he’d seen her This ti aside a ca as he raced past, trying to catch up to Reht side of the stairs About halfway up, she looked back and saw Bruno gaining on her The purse, with the phones and her Sig Sauer, felt as heavy as a boat anchor Hefting the bag onto her left shoulder to give the other shoulder a rest, she pushed on, feeling herself slowing froue

When she surveyed the stairs above, there was no one clear path up The crowd shifted, people suddenly sitting in front of her, posing for photos, with the twin towers of the church at the top They paid little attention to Ree course because they changed positions for a better shot with their cell phones or cameras

Her quads burned by the ti cold water held a bottle dripping with condensation out toward her Not even having enough breath to tell the man no, she looked back, saw Bruno about twenty steps below her, slowing down, but not nearly enough room for her comfort

Traffic in front of the church was one-hich ht on Via Sistina and either continue straight past the church and the Spanish Steps to the left or oriana, which would bring him back the way he came Certain he’d stay on Sistina, she immediately headed that direction But as she searched the street, not seeing him or their car, the flaw in her plan becah Rohtmare, especially around thehow long she’d have to wait

What she needed was a place to hide Out of breath, and with no energy to run farther, she ducked into an alcove of one of the shops, hoping Brunoher back to the wall, she leaned over, her handbag slipping from her shoulder Too tired to do ht of the purse rest on the ground, trying to fill her lungs with air, while she waited It seeround in front of her, then the sound of heavy breathing, which was al pulse in her ears Withouther way

They stood there in a stale Sam would pull up at any moment But after what seemed an eternity, she realized she was on her own

“Got you,” Bruno ed as he sucked in air, his sweat-drenched expression one of triumph He took a step toward her

Re struck his jaw, the phones and gunat her for one shock-filled second, when she brought her foot up into his groin As he cru out in pain, she stepped over hiot you better”

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Sas He gave a tap of the horn, leaned over and opened the passenge

r door for her “How’d it go?” he asked

She tossed her purse onto the floorboards as she slid in, wiping the perspiration fro up than I remembered” She took a deep breath, then looked over at him “Did you find it?”