Free Midnight in Venice by Meadow Taylor Page A

react, he grabbed at her purse, giving her a push at the same time.
    She felt herself hurtling toward the canal and might have ended up in it had she not slung her shoulder strap over her head. Instead, she ricocheted back toward the man, his bloodshot eyes locked on hers, her hair catching on his ragged stubble. She screamed as the blade of a knife flashed.
    â€œShut up!” He swore in Italian as he attempted to wrench the strap over her head. But he was clumsy, and along with the strap, he grabbed her hair.
    She screamed again, this time in pain, but didn’t resist—her dad had always told her that if a mugger wants your purse, let him have it. But as much she tried to comply, it was impossible to free herself.
    Alessandro had leapt from the boat and closed the distance between them in a couple of strides.
    â€œBack off, man!” the mugger shouted, now pointing the knife at Alessandro as he wrenched her hair even harder.
    â€œDrop the knife,” Alessandro said coolly and steadily. Reassured by Alessandro’s calm, she stayed as still as she could, trying to ignore the sharp blade as the man thrust it erratically toward Alessandro.
    â€œDon’t come any closer!” the mugger yelled as he jerked the knife back to her throat. She could feel its tip against her skin. He smelled of sweat and dirty clothes, his breath sour with alcohol and garlic.
    â€œI won’t,” Alessandro said firmly, holding the attacker’s gaze. “Just drop the knife and let her go.”
    â€œGive me your purse! Now!” he demanded. Olivia caught the slightest nod from Alessandro. His coolness gave her courage, but still her heart pounded and her hand shook as she finally lifted the bag over her head.
    The mugger yanked it away. “Don’t try anything,” the attacker croaked as he backed away, taking Olivia with him. She felt a surge of despair. What now? What could Alessandro do as long as the man had a knife against her throat?
    Her foot brushed against her attacker’s, giving her an idea. It wasn’t a very unique idea, but it might give Alessandro the second of opportunity he needed.
    And so she stepped as hard as she could on the man’s foot. He stumbled and Alessandro was on him in a flash, bringing him to the ground with a thud. He pinned him with his knee while he twisted the hand that held the knife around the man’s back. The knife clattered across the paving stones.
    â€œLet me go!” the mugger whined petulantly.
    â€œNot on your life,” Alessandro said. He wasn’t even breathing hard. “Are you okay?” he asked Olivia.
    She nodded. She was still speechless and her heart was pounding, but she knew she was safe. The whole incident, from the time the man had grabbed her to when Alessandro had him pinned to the ground, had lasted only minutes.
    An elderly priest ran out of the church and came to a shaky stop a few yards away. “What’s going on here?” he demanded.
    â€œIt’s okay, Father,” Alessandro said as he took his mobile from his inside pocket and punched in a number. “Rossi here. I’m in front of the Chiesa Raffaele. Any municipal police there? Good. Send someone over. Got an attempted purse snatching . . . I think an assault charge is in order too. He threatened a young woman with a knife. Tell them to hurry. This is cutting into my lunch.”
    The mugger started to protest.
    â€œBe quiet,” Alessandro said firmly. “I’m not interested.”
    â€œYou should be ashamed of yourself, boy,” the priest added sternly.
    The “boy” swore at him.
    Alessandro twisted his arm, and the mugger let out a yelp of pain. “Don’t speak to your elders like that.” To the priest, he said, “Sorry, Father.”
    Already a couple of uniformed police officers were heading in their direction.
    â€œConvenient for us that you decided to pull this stunt a few feet from the