“She’s fine. What I want to know is, how are you? Have the trapped miners been rescued?”
“We’re just getting started, but I want to know about my wife.”
“I only have one thing to say. She’s not the person I thought she was.”
Stefano sucked in his breath. “Is that good or bad?”
“What in the hell do you think? I steered you wrong when you asked me for advice in my office that day. Before I put her on the plane, I called her Your Highness. She forbid me from ever saying that to her again.” Stefano chuckled. “She’s nothing like what I’d conjured in my imagination.”
He closed his eyes tightly. Amen to that. “I owe you, amico.”
“Good luck and come home safe. Ciao.”
“Ciao.”
Relieved with that report, he phoned Lanza while no one needed to talk to him.
To his satisfaction she answered after the first ring in an anxious voice. “Stefano? Are you all right? What about the trapped miners?”
“Yes and yes. As for the miners, I’ll find out soon. There are three of them, but it’s going to be difficult reaching them and could take longer than I’d hoped.”
She moaned. “Now that you’re there to investigate, how do you think it happened?”
“I know exactly what caused it. The graphs showed there was a noticeable ground settling of the earth after tremors along the Acapulco trench a couple of months ago. The collapse couldn’t have been prevented.”
“Thank heaven you can’t be blamed.”
“But I will be anyway, and won’t be happy until the miners are found and able to be home with their families. I bet your parents were surprised to see you arrive early without me. When I know more, I’ll email your father to explain.”
“Please don’t,” she begged.
He frowned. “Why not?”
“I didn’t go home, Stefano. I flew to Rome and am staying in my Zia Ottavia’s villa. I adore her and she’s being wonderful to me. I plan to stay here until you’re able to return. If you don’t mind, I’d rather meet you at the Domodossola Airport when you fly in from Mexico. We’ll arrive back at the palace together.”
That explained his conversation with Enzo. She’d mentioned going to her aunt’s before. Enzo couldn’t have talked her out of it and she’d sworn him to secrecy.
Stefano grinned. His wife was her own person in every way and heavenly shape. “I’m glad you’re safe and happy. I’ll try to get back as soon as I can.”
“Thank you for calling and letting me know you got there without incident. I’ll pray those men get out alive.”
He swallowed hard. “That means a lot, Lanza. I’m hoping to see you soon. Buona notte, sposa mia.”
After hanging up, he left the office to join the other rescue workers. The next few desperate days and nights would keep him from reliving those moments on the couch before Lanza had pulled out of his arms. She’d been life to him, but he had to correct that remark and admit, she was life to him.
CHAPTER TWELVE
THOUGH LANZA LOVED spending time with her aunt, her mind wasn’t off Stefano for a second. Other than two text messages that said they were still searching for the men, she’d had no other news.
By the fifth day she couldn’t stand it. She had to talk to him! But first she called Enzo, who told her he hadn’t heard from Stefano, either.
Lanza was fretting that Stefano might feel he had to go down the mine. She had no doubt his life could be in danger if he did and there was another tremor that caused more cave-in. The thought of losing him was too horrendous to contemplate. If she could just hear his voice...
After dinner she went to her room and phoned him on his cell, something she’d promised herself not to do. It was night there. All she got was his voice mail. Lanza hung up, but she couldn’t stand not knowing anything.
On impulse she called the mining office number he’d programmed. Someone would be able to tell her what was going on if they were there. She pressed the digit and waited for the call to go through. After a moment, “Bueno?” said a female voice.
“Buenas noches, señora. Is there someone in your office who speaks English? I need information.”