Cara Mia

by Denise Verrico

  All at once Brovik became still. He looked to Ethan, then to me. He started to laugh, softly at first, building to a crescendo. “Is this why you have made your Bird of Prey, to frighten me with the specter of Sanjavani?”

  “You’ve taken no women, unless you count the boy.”

  “I couldn’t leave such a heart to stop beating! Kurt’s the best I’ve ever made, and there were a dozen before you! He’s contributed more to this house in a decade, than you’ve done in a century.”

  This remark wounded Ethan deeply. He rose from the bed. “Do without my contribution then!”

  “Go then, maybe Gaius will take you in. See if you fare as well under him.”

  Ethan turned slowly pale and trembling. “You just have to pound the stake in a little at a time, don’t you?”

  “Don’t be foolish.” Brovik laid a gentle hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “There’s work for you, a chance to show your mettle. It will be lucrative if you succeed.”

  Ethan threw him off. “What work?”

  “Take Mia to the Wolf’s palazzo.”

  “Bringing her here for you to dally with is one thing, but I won’t subject her to them!”

  “Gaius has made several offers. It’s our chance Ethan.”

  “And you know what Dirk will do to her.”

  “She’s smart enough to handle that buffoon. Why else did you train her?” Ethan didn’t answer. Brovik took a long look at him. “I’ll speak to Gaius—say you’ve tired of her, and want to be rid of her. Take her in a week’s time, when he invests Dirk with his portion. Mia will maneuver to be alone with him, won’t you my dear?”

  Ethan glared at me. “What did you bribe her with?”

  Blood rushed to my face against my will.

  “She’ll do this out of love, which is more than I can say for you.”

  Ethan winced. “Is this what you want Mia, to be his pawn?”

  “If it can help our cause…”

  “Funny, until recently, you found this cause to be hopeless.”

  “I’ve seen the light.”

  “I’m sure you have. How much Brovik?”

  “Ten thousand.”

  “For my property to be savaged?”

  “Fifteen. Demand compensation from Gaius as well.”

  “This is dangerous work. Twenty.”

  “Very well, build another wing onto your house.”

  Ethan smiled, turning to me. “Perhaps Gaius will outbid you. It may be to my advantage to sell her.”

  Brovik shook his head. “You bluff badly.”

  I was pissed now. “I’m not your property!”

  “Oh yes, you are. I’ve invested a lot in you, but rest assured my dear, you’re worth more in the long haul. I’m sure Brovik has more work for us.”

  They just looked at one another, so much baggage there, each maneuvering to get his way. I looked at them both, sick and apprehensive, wondering just how much I’d be called upon to do in pursuit of the cause, before I had what I wanted most.

  THIRTEEN

  Two weeks later, a boat picked up Ethan from our dock to take us to Capri. Brovik had given me a blood red satin gown for the occasion, and I wore the rubies Ethan had given me our first year together. Ethan, in evening clothes, leaned against the rail, thinking of all the nice things his twenty thousand would buy, no doubt.

  Sunset bled over the horizon, scarlet and purple, reflected in the bay’s smooth mirror. I looked north. What Kurt was doing? The boat pulled up to Gaius’s dock and we were helped ashore, and up a steep stairway, by burly male slaves, Ethan referred to as dogs.

  Red veins spread over the black marble, Renaissance palazzo, like blood-filled capillaries. Well-dressed vampires strolled through verdant gardens, all Gaius’s blood.

  I asked Ethan how he could keep such an establishment without suspicion.

  He shrugged. “Anyone this rich can buy all the anonymity he wants.”

  Heads turned. I clung to Ethan’s arm, ignoring speculative murmurs. What appeared to be a teenaged girl approached, her green eyes complimented by the emeralds she wore. Her nubile curves were outlined in green silk. Shining auburn hair cascaded down her bared back.

  Ethan’s face warmed. “Lisette, enchantee.”

  A slender white hand reached out for him to kiss. She surprised me by embracing me and kissing my cheeks. “Quelle charmante! We wondered when Ethan would share his treasure.”

  A surprising wave of desire rose up over me as she caressed my cheek. You’d have to be made of stone not to want her.

  “Where is Gaius?” Ethan asked.

  She tilted her head. “In the gallery. He has some new picture he wants to show you. Go. I’ll take good care of Mia.” She took my arm. “Come meet Guilietta. She’s terrible, cherie, I warn you.”

  We strolled across the garden arm and arm, Lisette chattering and fussing over my gown and jewelry. I half heard what she was saying. As we took our turn about, murmurs of derision rose.

  I took stock of Gaius’s alphas and their households. The alphas were all cut from the same cloth, and I didn’t think much of the tailor. Their women flitted about the gardens, gilded butterflies in fine materials of every color, glittering with jewels on their breasts, hair, fingers and ears, laughter tinkling like broken crystal on the wind. Most ranged from pubescence to my mortal age in appearance, a few were little girls, their blithe faces belying the horror underlying this masquerade.

  Their masters were mostly on the tall side. Even in times when such height was rare they managed to find the tallest, strongest males to add to the ranks. But in the shadows hovered males with the shape of boys, with eyes that had seen too much. Hatred burned in those glittering orbs, rage at being trapped forever in this state. I knew only Diego’s Arturo, a dark-haired, doe-eyed, teenaged-formed beauty, who served glasses of warmed blood from a silver tray.

  Lisette led me up to the terrace where a cool blonde held court with a circle of male admirers. Guilietta was easily the tallest woman there, willowy, with a smooth cornet of silvery blonde held high on a long neck—Grace Kelly with a really bad attitude. Violet eyes fell on me. “Who is this?”

  “Ethan’s Mia.”

  She gave me the once over, a hard little smile tightening luscious lips. “Not so much to look at, is she?”

  I could have raked my nails over that perfect white face, but diplomacy was the word, so I bit my tongue. But oh, if I ever get the chance…

  Lisette laughed. “Our lord differs with your opinion.”

  The men laughed, but Guilietta was nonplused. “After three hundred years in his favor, she’s no threat to me. Lisette flatters herself because she’s managed to keep her head longer than the rest.”

  “I think she’s delicious.” Lisette surprised me by wrapping her arms around me and kissing me on the mouth as the men gawked.

  Gaius came up the steps, just as Lisette drew away, leaving me breathless. The alphas scattered, as their lord bent to kiss my hand. “My Little Pomegranate Blossom. Gulietta? Where are your manners? Kiss your new sister.”

  “This American bitch brings nothing but trouble! Mark my words.” She glided away, midnight blue skirts rustling behind.

  Gaius watched her departure, chuckling. “So passionate. I never know whether she’ll pull a dagger.” He drew Lisette to him. “You aren’t the jealous type, are you Kitten?” Gaius’s hands caressed her bare shoulders. “You two must become better acquainted. Our amusements are so much more exquisite. Kitten, go tell Dirk I wish to speak with him.”

  She gave me a come-hither look as she slipped away. Gaius offered his arm, leading me to a vantage point overlooking the bay. “Tiberius lived on this island once. Far from the oppressive elements of Rome—free to seek his pleasures.”

  The emperor’s pleasures included sexually abusing kids. He called them his “minnows”, and when he tired of them he’d throw them off the cliff behind his palace.

  Gaius turned my right hand palm up, tracing veins in my wrist with his f
ingers. “The same blood made us Mia; your mortal clan goes back to Etruscan times. Dirk has served me well. To avoid trouble with Ethan, I sent him away, but he did as I bid, on the promise I would obtain you for him. However, you won’t be merely an ornament for his bedchamber. I have particular need of your skills.”

  Two of the Alphas he’d dismissed had been joined by a third and they glared silently at us across the terrace. “Your Alphas seem unimpressed.”

  He smiled slowly, drawing my hand up to his lips and kissing the upturned palm. “They underestimate you. In my hands you can be a Messalina. But don’t underestimate Dirk. He is a brute, but his savagery will survive the coming trials, with enough left over to make you behave. There will be bloodshed in years to come.” He looked grimly out to the bay. “Time is catching up with us. The mortal world grows close to unraveling our mystery. Brovik believes the downfall of the ancients is inevitable. The Ragnorak, twilight of the Gods, he calls it.”

  “That’s too poetic for Brovik. It’s much more in Ethan’s line.”

  “There’s a valued place for you in my house. I won’t let Dirk do you harm—aside from his peccadilloes. He’ll cause pain, but nothing you won’t survive. It means too much to him to possess you.”

  On cue, Dirk lurched up the stairs, in impeccable eveningwear, his sandy hair slicked back, sporting a white orchid in his lapel. Evidently, he’d spent some time in exile polishing. On his finger glittered a ring shaped as the she-wolf and twins, set with diamonds, very different than the plain gold Brovik had given. Dirk bowed and kissed my hand. I recoiled. “Good evening Mia, how lovely you look.”

  Gaius laughed out loud. “You won’t win her that way. Her value is she has no delusions about men’s flatteries. It will serve you better to curse her. She hates you, poor fool. If you weren’t so cruel yourself I’d worry. How you’ll torment each other.” Gaius laughed again. “She’ll take your head someday. I’ll put money on it.”

  Dirk scowled, more like himself. “You find this amusing?”

  “When you’ve lived as long as I, you’ll welcome any novelty.”

  “I’ll make her love me.”

  Gaius laughed again. “Now, there’s another wager I’ll take. Don’t be a fool. Ask Mia about the durability of true love.”

  “She has no choice.” Dirk liked that idea. “No choice at all. Oh, that really irks her to hear that. I’ll remind her every night.”

  “Enough. I wanted you both to hear this. I’m making you second, to fill the place left when Enrico was killed.”

  Dirk was delighted. “The others will hate it!”

  “I can depend on your loyalty. The others I’m not so certain of. But don’t think because I’m giving her to you that she won’t be expected to work. I have plans for her and want no interference from you. Understood?”

  “Fine.”

  “Look at me! I know your lusts, Dirk. She’s not your victim and I won’t have her treated so. So help me, I’ll take her from you.”

  “Understood.”

  “There Pomegranate Blossom, you have my promise.” Boy, if he knew what I thought of his promises. Gaius kissed me on the cheeks. “I must go meet with Ethan. Dirk, entertain her—show her the labyrinth.”

  As soon as Gaius left, Dirk jerked me to him, chortling. “Things will be very different now. It must really irk you that pretty Ethan put you aside, but with me you’ll be better off.”

  “You really get off on me hating you.”

  “It makes it more interesting. Let’s find a little privacy.”

  He dragged me, a kid with a new toy, toward the gardens where a bronze Eros perched over a magnificent marble fountain. His slender, winged form recalled Kurt’s, while Dirk’s simian bulk prompted nothing but revulsion. Psyche never labored as hard as me for Love.

  I grimaced. “You’re as happy as a pig in shit, as we say, but it’s not a done deal. Ethan could change his mind.”

  “The Northman doesn’t want you in the way. You need a man, not another man’s boy.” He pulled me into a maze of shrubs. “This is much better.” He lowered my bodice, trailing his finger over my breasts. “You know you want it.”

  I stared him down. “Not particularly, but if the compensation is worth it I can tolerate it.”

  “Arrogant slut.” He wrapped one arm around my waist, his free hand groping me. His tongue forced its way into my mouth, a wet, slippery eel. I pulled back and scratched his face, knowing full well this is what he liked. He grabbed me by the shoulders. I struggled to free myself. “That’s right, put up a fight,” he panted, licking a slimy path down my throat.

  I pushed his head away, gasping. “Can’t you wait until they settle terms?”

  He whined, “I’ve waited twelve years!”

  My voice dropped low in my chest, “It’ll be so much better when we’re in our own bed.”

  He moaned aloud and pushed me down on my knees, unzipping his trousers, “Suck me off!”

  I pushed, knocking him backwards into the hedge, and took off running through the maze. I had to string him along for a while longer. If I gave in too easily, he’d be suspicious. The long gown tripped me up and the corset I wore kept me from getting a decent breath. I came up on a dead end, panting against the wall of a shed, until he found me.

  “I’m tired of games.” He pulled me into the small stone building, opening a trapdoor in the floor and carried me down, shutting the trapdoor and locking it from inside. I broke away and ran into a storeroom filled with crates, adjacent to the stairs. Dirk cornered me and caught me by the shoulders, sinking his teeth into my neck, draining me until I was weak. “You’re not going anywhere yet.” He grabbed a length of chain that he wrapped around my wrists, fastening them to a hook hanging from the wall so my feet barely brushed the ground. He seized my chin, forcing me to look at him. His face was impassive, blank and cold as he slid the zipper of my gown down my back, letting it drop to the floor. He drew a thin bladed knife from his coat, trailing the point over my throat, slicing the skin.

  “Dirk, please.”

  He licked my blood from the blade. “The Northman has ways of bending minds, Gaius says. Are you a spy?” He grabbed my hair, bending my neck painfully to look up at him. “Answer me!”

  “No!”

  He bent over my throat again, drawing very hard on the wound, until I was gasping with searing pain. “You’re a locked door! Damn you!” Cold darkness swirled around as he took hold of my hips. As loathsome experiences go, it was the worst.

  I was torn, bruised, and bleeding all over when that animal finished. Finally, he gave me his wrist. “Go on, drink. I’ll take you to Gaius. We’ll have time enough to work on you.”

  As soon as his blood hit my system, vision locked in: hospital gurneys and small Immortyls chained down, their blood siphoned out by tubes and pieces of their flesh cut away by scalpels, screaming in agony as Dirk and Gaius watched. The vision flickered for only a moment, replaced by a glowing skull with yellowish eyes.

  He unchained me. “Get dressed.” I reached out, scratching a huge gash on his face. He shoved me against the wall. “You’ll pay for that.”

  I struggled with my dress. He watched, with a satisfied smirk on his face. He grabbed my arm and dragged me along a corridor to a stone staircase, pulling me up the steps and through a doorway concealed by tapestries. Torches illuminated archaic instruments of torture and hospital gurneys. The room I’d seen in the blood was very real.

  “Gaius will bring you later for some fun.” He pressed a switch concealed in a panel on the opposite wall. It slid aside to reveal a large, luxurious apartment with huge windows overlooking the bay. Sitting at a small round table were Ethan, Gaius and his women playing cards. The women laughed as Ethan told an anecdote in Italian. Dirk dragged me in front of Gaius. Ethan looked at my disheveled appearance and his eyes went cold. “Sniveling dog, the terms aren’t even decided!”

  Gaius was stone-faced. “Dirk, what has transpired?”

  “I made sure
she wasn’t a spy.”

  Ethan jumped to his feet, grabbing Dirk by the lapels. “You bled her? Who gave you permission?”

  Dirk’s yellow eyes narrowed as he spat in Ethan’s face, “Remove your hands you strutting peacock, or I’ll cut your throat.”

  “Enough!” Gaius growled.

  Ethan released Dirk. “He has no right!”

  Dirk smirked. “It’s not like it’s the first time.”

  “Silence!” Gaius thundered, and I do mean that, the room shook. Dirk paled and backed off, slinking into a corner.

  Ethan sat me down, but the coward couldn’t look me in the eye as he examined the marks and bruises Dirk had left. “Animal, I wouldn’t give her to you for any price!”

  Gaius slugged Dirk. “You’ve ruined any chance you may have had—and now I owe him damages! Stupid beast! Ethan, will accept you the painting as compensation, with my deepest apologies?”

  “I’d like his head better.”

  “That would be a matter for the council. We don’t need to involve them, do we?”

  Lisette brought warm water and gently washed blood from my skin. My wounds burned as if they had been cauterized.

  Guilietta stared hard at me. “I knew she’d cause problems.”

  Gaius stared her down. “No one asked your opinion.”

  “You put too much trust in that buffoon over there, so your alphas are turning. Ethan is right. Take his head!”

  The Wolf’s eyes went cold. “You’re dismissed.”

  Guilietta glided past. “Mark me, it won’t end here.”

  Gaius turned to Ethan. “Perhaps it’s best you go now.”

  Twenty minutes later, Gaius’s boat sped back over the bay to our villa with Ethan cradling his crated painting and me huddled on the deck in a robe belonging to Lisette. Pleased with the turn of events, he hummed a little tune, mentally tallying his take while I sat utterly wretched and spent by the night’s events.

  “Cheer up, Madam. You’ll never be troubled by that swine again.”

  “If only I could say the same for you.”

  Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “What exactly did Brovik promise you?”