Page 238 of Marcello

And then things got scary.

The doorknob to my room clicked the way it always did when it turned…

Followed by the tiniest creak of the hinges.

Someone was in the room with me.

I strained to hear some telltale sign – breathing, maybe –

But I couldn’t hear anything over my heartbeat thudding in my ears.

If there were footsteps, they were muted by the thick Arabian rug on the floor.

“Who’s there?!” I cried out.

No answer –

But far down the hallway, I heard Luciano again – and more clearly this time. “I came in late. The power’s gone out.”

I immediately thought, If I scream, Luciano will come!

Just then, I heard the rustle of cloth by my bed –

And a hand clamped down over my mouth.

I was about to scream when I heard a familiar voice whisper in my ear. “It’s Romeo!”

ROMEO?!

WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!

PART V

ROMEO & GIULIETTA

73

Romeo

As I stood there in her pitch-black bedroom, I stared at Giulietta’s face through my night vision goggles.

NO –

HOW IS THIS FUCKING POSSIBLE?!

Far down the hallway, I heard Luciano speaking loudly. “I came in late. The power’s gone out.”

Giulietta’s head snapped to the side as she recognized her brother’s voice.

I knew she might call out to him, and I couldn’t take that chance, so I lunged forward and clamped my hand over her mouth.

Just as she started to scream, I whispered, “It’s Romeo!”

Her eyes stared up at me in shock.

“I’m going to take my hand away,” I whispered. “Don’t scream, alright?”

She nodded, and I removed my hand from her mouth.