Sleeping With The Enemy Page 6

  ‘Drop your fucking gun!’ Terry hissed angrily.

  The sound of gunfire boomed inside the room and Terry realized too late that Imposimato had shot him in the hand that had been holding the gun. The gun dropped of its own volition out of his hand and he clutched his bloody hand and shrieked in pain.

  Imposimato followed that shot with another to Terry’s forehead. He dropped to the floor in a dead mass.

  Without another glance at the dead man, Imposimato brought his gaze level with Cambiaso’s. ‘That second bullet was meant for you.’

  In spite of the situation, Cambiaso smiled. ‘Pity. I should’ve told him. Nobody swears at you.’

  Imposimato lowered his guns and walked around the room. He looked contemptuously at the two bodyguards on the floor. ‘I’ve never really trusted bodyguards. One: they make deadly assumptions that have even deadlier consequences. Two: they have a lousy reaction span. As unfortunate as it sounds, it’s a fact we have to live with.’

  ‘Just as the fact that someday I shall have the pleasure of killing you,’ said Cambiaso softly.

  Imposimato came to a standstill and gave Cambiaso a hard stare. ‘Do you wish to do that today?’

  ‘No,’ replied Cambiaso. ‘The leopard is a patient predator.’

  They challenged each other with powerful stares for a long moment. Imposimato shrugged. ‘Where is my briefcase?’

  Cambiaso pointed at a white leather couch. The black briefcase was lying on top of the couch. Imposimato crossed to the couch and opened the briefcase. All the money was still there. He closed it and picked it up. He threw a curt glance at Cambiaso and then walked out of the sun lounge.

  ‘I will kill you,’ he heard Cambiaso’s voice behind him. ‘But first I want you to feel pain. My time will come.’

  Imposimato tightened his grip on the briefcase’s handle. He fought down the overpowering temptation to shoot Cambiaso and walked out of the room.

  * * * * *

  When he arrived at his apartment, he was pleasantly surprised to find her there.

  She was sitting on the floor in the kitchen, leaning against the wall directly opposite the door. She was wearing nothing but a pink thong. She looked desirable and vulnerable at the same time. A warm feeling came over him, and he wanted to rush forward and take her in his arms and make love to her.

  He came in and closed the door behind him. ‘What is this?’ he asked softly, placing his briefcase on the kitchen table.

  She pulled her knees towards her chest and hugged them. She rested her chin on top of her knees and smiled wonderfully at him. ‘I hear you went to see the children today.’

  ‘Correct.’ He came round the table and perched himself on it, looking down at her. ‘How did you know?’

  ‘Sir, I keep my ears to the ground,’ she said cleverly.

  He stared at her silently, an amused smile on his face.

  ‘To thank you for going to the children’s home, I brought you a gift.’

  ‘I like it,’ he said with a nod of his head. ‘It’s wonderful, gorgeous and impressive.’

  ‘Most men don’t compliment me in such words.’

  ‘But then—.’

  ‘But then you’re not most men.’

  ‘Again, correct.’

  He smiled at her as she rose to her feet and strode provocatively to him. She came to a stop between his legs and he placed both his hands on her waist.

  ‘Guess what,’ she said.

  ‘You’ve fallen in love with me?’ he answered.

  She laughed. ‘Clever answer.’ She stroked his face with a finger. ‘I’ve been invited to a TV interview tomorrow.’

  He kissed her lips lightly. ‘I’m very proud of you.’ He looked into her eyes, stroked her hair and then inspected it closely. ‘Hm,’ he remarked pensively.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Let’s see what we can do to improve your hair.’

  ‘My hair’s fine—.’

  He covered her mouth with a hand. ‘Sit down.’

  She obeyed, and watched him with a curious face as he went into the bathroom and returned with a bottle of shampoo, a towel and a dish of water. He wrapped the towel around her shoulders and neck, and then he placed the dish on her lap and she bent down her head as he began to wash her hair. He then rinsed it and then sat on the table with her back to him. He plaited her hair in thick strands before using an electric dryer to dry it. Satisfied that he had taken all the moisture from it, he unplaited it and let it fall into her shoulders. Her hair fell in wavy strands upon her shoulders. He sprayed it with some hairspray and then brought her a mirror. He held the mirror for her as she looked at the change he had done to her hair.

  She was impressed. ‘Wow! Where did you learn to do that?’

  ‘Told you. Mama Imposimato was a woman of many talents.’ He handed her the mirror, went to the bedroom area and returned with a digital camera. ‘Remove the towel. I want to freeze the moment.’

  She did several poses for him as he snapped away happily. The she came to him and took the camera from his hands. She placed it on the table and unzipped his pants. She whipped him out and dropped to her knees before him to suck his penis. She worked it vigorously with her mouth until it grew to full turgidity.

  He pulled her up to her feet and they went to the bedroom area. He quickly took off his clothes and lay down on the bed. She pulled off her pink thong and came above him, parting her knees astride his face. He took her offered vagina and licked and stroked it with his tongue. She bent forward and took his cock inside her mouth. She gave him a thorough and satisfying blowjob until he grunted like a hungry mongrel. He got to his knees before her jutting ass and inserted his erection inside her vagina. He pressed her chest down on the bed and drove himself frantically in and out of her. In a moment, he groaned aloud and she felt his body shake violently as his orgasm overpowered him.

  ‘Shit!’ he exhaled.

  ‘I’m wearing you down, old man,’ she boasted with a laugh.

  ‘Wanna bet?’ he turned her onto her back and climbed quickly on top of her. He plunged back into her oily well of delights and moaned excitedly. She brought her legs up alongside the sides of his torso and dug her knees in his underarms as he ground himself against her. She stroked his bare back and pressed his buttocks down, enjoying the way he was rubbing his cock against her clitoris. She stroked the crack of his ass and found his anus. She drew circles with her finger around it and then slowly and gently inserted her finger into it. He kissed her furiously and erupted in a crazed orgasm.

  He collapsed onto her and lay still, his body wracked by short spasms of climax. ‘God!’ he groaned.

  ‘What?’ she asked curiously.

  He looked into her eyes. They held only affection for her. ‘I really should stop punishing myself.’

  She laughed hysterically.

  * * * * *

  He went with his camera to a photo studio, where he waited for some time while they developed his pictures for him. When the photos had been developed, they handed them to him inside a big envelope. He checked them and was satisfied. He paid the fee and left the photo studio for his apartment.

  Fourteen

  Rosin Ameliano was interviewed by a popular talk show host at the Gramercy Hotel’s large conference room. The make-up artists touched up her face and made it ready for television before the interview started. It would be watched by millions of people in America and beyond. A studio audience of 100 people was also present, having a first-hand witness account of the event.

  The host, Nicky Greenwall, a 33-year-old female host who had achieved fame with her high-brow talk show, started the interview on a light note. ‘Hello everyone. I have a special guest today, whose voice is heard on most days of the week by most people across America at regular intervals during the day. It is one that’s been described as a voice to make women jealous and one to make a man’s balls freeze with desire.’

  The studio audience erupted into laughter.

  ‘She’
s breathtakingly gorgeous – take my word for it – and she has the glorious name of Rosina Ameliano,’ continued the host. ‘Rosie, welcome to the show.’

  Rosina beamed the cameras a glorious smile. ‘Thank you for inviting me.’

  ‘On the subject of your voice, would you say with utter conviction that you are sensual or sensuous?’

  ‘It’s a talent,’ Rosina laughed. ‘I would say I’m 80% sensual and 20% sensuous.’

  The host laughed too. ‘Not only pretty, but quick with answers too.’

  Rosina laughed. ‘It’s in the blood…’

  ‘You are well-educated, with high-end degrees from prestigious European colleges…and it is said that you speak four languages…How did that come about?’

  ‘I should say that I’ve been lucky in life…and while I’m at it I should also be honest: I speak only three languages…I know a bit of Italian, not really fluently; French I speak well, and the English is debatable.’

  The studio audience and the host laughed.

  ‘…The fourth is sign language; it’s something I’m improving by the side.’

  ‘Impressive,’ said Nicky, her face becoming serious. ‘For someone who lives in the public spotlight, you do somehow manage to lead a private life.’

  ‘One sentence: Some people make headlines while others make history.’

  Nicky nodded. ‘I understand you have a reputation for knowing more quotes than anyone else on Channel 5.’

  ‘If you understand good quotes, you can lead something close to a perfect life. The other one is: There is a thin line between confidence and arrogance. Because fame usually turns normal people to selfish egomaniacs, that simple statement regularly helps me to check myself from sliding into the quagmire of complacency. I know what I want – and that is to be a strong and confident woman without being arrogant.’

  ‘So, arrogance is the one thing you value the most in your life?’

  ‘Not exactly…’

  * * * * *

  Ferdinando Imposimato arrived at his apartment in a hurry and went straight to the TV. He switched it on and his lover’s face filled the screen.

  She was saying, ‘I hate arrogance for what it does. It leads to human error. Recently I learned from someone that when the French Palace of Versailles was built it didn’t have toilets or bathrooms…’

  Imposimato laughed. He was impressed that she had remembered that piece of information he had supplied her with.

  ‘…That is human folly we can certainly live without. And it is very unfortunate that even in today’s supposedly civilized world we still have human errors that should be abolished.’

  ‘Such as?’ the host prompted.

  Ferdinando stood there, completely absorbed in the interview.

  ‘Such as neglecting those in our society who are underprivileged,’ answered Rosina. ‘Politicians use the word “underprivileged” – when it is clear that you cannot be underprivileged when there’s nothing to make you “privileged” in the first place.’

  ‘Is it true that you’re involved in charity work?’

  ‘It is something that I dedicate generous amounts of my time to. I would love to do more, but a person can only do so much. I am devoted to the children who live in a home outside the city. They’re a bunch of beautiful kids who need nothing from society but love.’

  ‘You sound really compassionate—.’

  ‘Every day I can’t stop dreaming and hoping that someday we as a people will be able to get rid of poverty. John Wesley said: Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.’

  The host faced the cameras. ‘Let’s go for a short break. We’ll return shortly for more tender moments with Rosina Ameliano.’

  A L’Oreal commercial came onto the screen, followed by several others. During the commercial break, Imposimato quickly fixed three A3-sized pictures onto their respective picture frames and then hung the pictures on one of the walls in his bedroom. He stood back and watched the woman in those pictures: Rosina Ameliano, a beautiful goddess, smiling beautifully, frozen in time. He turned around to face the TV when he heard the noise of the studio audience clapping as the show returned.

  The camera zoomed into the talk-show host and her guest. They sat facing the crowd on two off-white couches, positioned next to each other. Behind them, illuminated with bright light and written in beautiful lettering, was the show’s name: Tender Moments With…

  The host smiled at the camera. ‘Welcome back…and Rosina, thank you again for sharing these tender moments of your life with us.’

  Rosina just smiled.

  ‘I understand you have an undying love for New York City.’

  ‘I love New York. I really cannot imagine living anywhere else in the world. I mean…where do I start? The vibrant art scene, the places of interest, the vibe of the city…New York is one of the few big cities in the world where you can get by without a car. The transport network is excellent.’

  The host smiled at her mischievously. ‘Tell us, I understand—.’

  ‘Uh-oh, here we go,’ Rosina interjected with a smile.

  The audience laughed.

  ‘I understand there is a new man in your life.’

  ‘Oh God.’ Rosina fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat. ‘Could we end the interview, please?’

  ‘No, Rosie,’ Nicky said with a laugh. ‘People want to know, most of all me. Is it true that you have found love?’

  ‘Um…please rephrase that question,’ Rosina said shyly.

  The host laughed in amusement. ‘Okay, is there a guy in your life?’

  ‘Well…um…’ Rosina screwed her eyes evasively. ‘There’s some element of truth in it.’

  ‘Alright,’ the host interestedly turned in her chair to fully face Rosina. ‘Tell us about him.’

  ‘I don’t know…’ Rosina groaned uncomfortably. ‘I mean I don’t want him to get a big head.’

  Ferdinando laughed.

  ‘Is he kind and loving?’ Nicky prompted.

  ‘I can say he’s everything I expected him to be – at the moment,’ she added quickly.

  ‘Wow!’ Nicky said in a congratulatory tone. ‘I’m happy for you. And I really hate to sound pessimistic, but given that it is almost a nightmare for public figures to find – let alone keep – love, do you think it will last?’

  ‘Um…it is really up to him.’

  ‘So with you, as things stand it’s fine?’

  ‘Sure,’ Rosina said tersely, clearly not wanting to divulge more on the subject.

  ‘May I just be intrusive and ask how he makes you feel?’

  Rosina sighed deeply and took a moment to respond. ‘He makes me grow intellectually, emotionally and…um…otherwise.’ A mischievous look covered her face.

  Nicky Greenwall hadn’t become famous by missing opportunities. ‘You mean sexually?’

  Rosina quickly covered her face in her hands and groaned aloud. ‘Oh God.’

  Laughter broke out in the audience.

  Imposimato laughed and bit into an apple he had fetched from the fridge.

  ‘Okay,’ Nicky said when the laughter had died down. ‘Final question – and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the viewers’ sake that you’ll answer me positively…Can you tell me his name?’

  ‘Oh…’ Rosina dragged out the word. ‘I’m doubting…doubting…but, well…No…’ she shook her head. ‘I can’t do it. No, sorry.’

  ‘Please, Rosie,’ pleaded the host.

  Defeatedly, Rosina sighed. ‘His name is Ferdinando Imposimato.’

  ‘Oh wow,’ said Nicky Greenwall.

  * * * * *

  ‘Oh wow indeed,’ echoed Cambiaso with a sneer on his face.

  ‘Italian?’ Nicky Greenwall asked.

  ‘In the flesh and blood,’ Rosina responded with a naughty smile.

  ‘With an exotic accent?’

  ‘The woks.’

  Laughter.

  Cambiaso said to his man without turning from the TV, ‘Get the car. The leop
ard is ready to strike.’

  * * * * *

  ‘Shit!’ Imposimato exploded furiously when his lover mentioned his name for public consumption. He grabbed his keys and rushed out of the apartment without bothering to switch off the TV.

  He took the elevator down to the basement garage and quickly got inside his customized Mercedes Benz Vito that he kept parked there for emergencies. He started the car and drove it at a dangerously fast speed out of the basement parking lot.

  * * * * *

  Rosina was given a hug of thanks by Nicky Greenwall, then she spent some time signing autographs for members of the live audience. After half an hour she left the hotel and walked outside.

  She was walking outside happily when she was suddenly grabbed by the waist and hoisted into the air. She started to scream but her mouth was covered by a strong, determined hand. Before she had time to register what was happening she was hurled into the back of a van. Her assailant was Cambiaso, but she had no time to see him until he went quickly to sit behind the wheel of his van and started the engine.

  He was about to drive away when a big van came and blocked his way at the front of his van. Cambiaso cursed and threw a glance at the other van. He noticed that Ferdinando Imposimato was behind the steering wheel of that van. Then he smiled to himself when he noticed another car, a big black Lincoln Navigator, siding up next to Imposimato’s Vito.

  A double barreled rifle emerged from the passenger seat of the Navigator and as soon as it appeared it coughed up noisy shots, all of them directed at Imposimato. He ducked and disappeared from view. Momentarily, a rambunctious noise was heard coming from the inside of Imposimato’s van. The back doors of his van flung open and he shot out of the van on top of a motorbike.

  While all this was happening, Rosina had the presence of mind to set herself free. She leapt out of the van and sprinted down the road, not caring where she was going, as long as she was as far away as possible from her captor.