VINCENZO
I stared down at the water—jaw clenched in full concentration.
“Siete pronti.” [Ready?]
I braced up. Having gathered enough momentum, I signaled to Michele with a thumbs up.
"And go!"
I plunged headfirst into the freezing pool. The water hit me hard on the face. I pierced down to the bottom of the pool, coming to lie face up. Bubbles left my nostrils. I left my eyes open for a while before shutting them. The serenity of the pool lulled me to sleep.
Some time later, I jerked awake and pushed upwards to the surface. With my head out, I sucked in air. f**k. My chest weighed tons. Ignoring the pressure, I came to realize that the sun had reached its peak. Had I actually stayed that long underwater?
And come to think of it, where was Michele? I looked around. The fucker. He
