“Si. Off the coast. A popular vacation spot. After the interrogation, perhaps we can go there for a proper honeymoon.” He tried not to let the fear in his heart reach her, but she sensed the change in him and wound her arms around his waist.
After a deep breath, Nic continued. “You can see Capri from my home high on the mountain. The view…trapped in that lab, I would often call up the memory of sitting on the veranda as the sea breezes perfumed the air.”
“I’ve never seen the ocean.” A wistful note infused her tone.
“You will see it every day soon.” He lapsed into silence, happy to simply share this closeness with her.
“Tell me about Livia.”
Nic sucked in a breath, staring down at his life mate in shock.
“Vittoria told me.”
“Blood banks did not exist yet. Not back then. We all fed from humans, most peacefully. We’d ask permission, often compensate them. And many humans…they enjoyed being bitten and would offer themselves freely.
“Those of us in power…most of us anyway…wanted to set a better example. This is, unfortunately, where the idea of a blood slave came from. When I no longer wanted to be a surgeon, I had to find another way to stay alive.”
“Vittoria said you offered to pay her.” Evangeline twined their fingers, then brushed a kiss to Nic’s hand.
“Si. I was walking through town one day, and she stopped me, begged me for a few coins. When you live as long as we do, cara, you learn to read people. I saw goodness in her. But her husband had died, and she was destitute.”
Nic let his memories carry him back to Naples that long, hot summer. “I gave her what I had in my pockets and left. But a few days later, when I saw her again, I asked her if she wanted a home in exchange for a small amount of her blood twice a week. She agreed and moved into a small guest house at the edge of my property. I believe she was happy there.”
“You miss her?”
“She was a good woman. Sad, alone, but a good spirit. I cared for her. I even asked her if she wanted to be turned. I would not have done so myself, but I would have made the arrangements. But no. She did not wish to remain in this world for more than her allotted lifetime. Her death was a great loss—both for me and for the community.”
“Weren’t you lonely?”
The soul-crushing ache of his eighteen years of forced solitude weighed down on him. “Every day. But after so many years, you learn to live with the feeling.”
“Nic…”
“Do not worry, mia sposa. I am not alone any longer.”
But one day, long before you, I’ll die.
Her thoughts were so transparent to him now. Before he could distract her—and himself—from the morbid truth they would one day have to face, she shook her head and brightened.
“Is the ocean really as blue as in pictures?”
“Si. And Italy is awash in color.”
“What do—did—you do? I mean, you had a job, right?”
“I own an import/export business. Food, wine, leather. Italy manufactures much of the world’s best red wine, olives, prosciutto, and olive oil.”
“Carlo ran it while you were gone?”
“Si. I have a small, trusted board of advisors. Though I have final approval for new products, new contracts. I only spent five or six days per month at my offices. Conclave business took another few days per month. The rest of my time was my own.”
Another wave of unease hit him as she worried the edge of the sleeping bag. “What will I do? I can hunt. I’m good with my hands. I have passable tech skills. But I’ve never even stepped inside of a business. I don’t know anything about this new life we’re going to build together. I’m flying blind. And I’m scared.”
He pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. At least this fear, he could allay. “There is no need to worry over that now. I have enough savings that neither of us must work right away. We can take time to get used to one another. I can teach you to drive, help you learn how to live in a proper society. Please do not fret. Whatever we do now, we will do together.”
They huddled under the sleeping bag blanket for hours, learning about each other in whispered words and gentle caresses. Childhood stories, mostly. Nic had a sister who died at sixteen. Evangeline spoke of Cassie and how the two had lived together for several years.
“When the woman started helping Longo, I could smell you from time to time. Knowing you lived…brought me comfort. Though I always hoped you would be able to escape. I did not know how long it had been—how many years I had been in that cursed cell.
“Longo kept me sedated for days, perhaps even weeks, while they studied me. I would wake with healing incisions, new bruises, pain. Other times, they would leave me alone until I thought I’d go mad. I had no relief of darkness, no indication of day or night. I could hear them moving around, but only snatches of conversations. I meditated often—tried to keep my mind occupied. Being so old, my memory is nearly perfect. I have memorized many books, movies, even operas. But always I would look forward to receiving my meals, despite the horrible taste of that manufactured protein, for the woman brought them and I would smell you. I would remember how you smiled at me that night in the forest. You were so trusting, so unafraid of me.”
“I guess Carlo was right. We both held on to each other.”
“Si, I suppose we did. I will hold on to you forever now, mia sposa.” He kissed her again, and then pulled the sleeping bag up to her shoulders. “We should try to sleep. We must be at our best tomorrow.”
Hours later, the smell of fresh coffee woke the newly bonded pair. “Coffee?” Evangeline asked. “How did they make coffee?”
“I do not know. But I want some. Desperately.”
Once dressed, Nic strode out into the main room, finding Carlo sipping hot coffee as he perused something on the tablet’s screen.
“Carlo. Caffè?” Nic asked.
“Of course. Pietro has a small hot plate and Bialetti pot. You expected us to come out into the wilderness without life’s simplest pleasures? Besides, if you want us at our best, coffee is not optional.”
“Is there more?” Evangeline ducked out of the office, her cheeks flushing at her hopeful tone.
Carlo passed her the tablet, and the proximity of their hands brought Nic only a moment of jealousy. “Look here,” she said, pointing at a slight discoloration in the mottled carpet of the forest. “What does that look like to you?”
Nic cocked his head as he stared at the screen. “Perhaps a manhole cover?”
Evangeline marked the image for further review. Two images later, she found another. On the last image, Nic spotted a third discoloration. “Three tunnels. While you eat, we can discuss a plan.”
After they'd freshened up, they rejoined Carlo at the front counter where he’d set out two cups of coffee and some hard, crescent-shaped cookies.
“Biscotti, cara.” Nic dipped one of the cookies into her coffee and held it out for her.
She took a bite from his hand and smiled. “You’re spoiling me.”
“I will do so for the rest of your life, Evangeline. Happily.”
Carlo called Pietro and Vittoria down from the roof, and the group gathered around the counter. “These are access tunnels,” Evangeline said. “Air vents. They’re long, and probably secured somehow, but they’re large enough for any of us to crawl through, and they should lead directly inside.”
“How sophisticated is your technology?” Pietro asked.
“I don’t have any basis of comparison for the outside world, but the trackers they used in us were smaller than my fingernail. The portals allow us to travel up to fifteen miles in any direction. I know Henry will have guards, a security grid. He never trusted me with the details of all the protocols though.”
Nic ran a hand through his hair. “We should go in at night.”
“Will they not have heat-sensing technology?” Pietro asked. “We will need a diversion. Carlo and I can draw their fire. You, t
he human, and Vittoria can try to gain access to the catacombs below. Three tunnels, three of you.”
A growl rumbled in Nic’s throat. “Your cavalier treatment of my life mate is getting on my nerves. She is not ‘the human.’ She has a name. And I am not leaving her. We will only use two of the tunnels, but we will need to secure the third so no one can use it to escape.”
“They won’t need to use it,” Evangeline protested. Her fingers brushed the inside of his wrist, comforting him with the warmth of the bonding mark. “They have the portal generators. They can get fifteen miles away in a heartbeat or even appear behind us. We have to figure out a way to get inside without them knowing.”
Carlo frowned. “There is perhaps another way.”
“What?” Evangeline’s fingers dug into Nic’s arm.
“The incantesimo,” Carlo said. “If we were to find a human from below, we could use the incantesimo on him or her and perhaps gain access.”
Evangeline shook her head. “No. The last two humans we encountered from the catacombs were laced with serum. I won’t risk you.” She looked around at the other vampires gathered in front of her. “I won’t risk any of you.”
“We have enough blood,” Pietro said. “Vittoria could perhaps discern whether the human was infected before Carlo used the incantesimo.”
“After smelling the stink of the child’s blood yesterday, si. I believe I could.” Vittoria nodded.
Meeting Nic’s gaze, Evangeline stood up a little straighter. “I don’t really understand how the incantesimo works. Can you hide the fact that someone is under its influence?”
“Si.” Pietro’s reply sent Evangeline pressing closer to Nic, and he wrapped his arm around her. “With the incantesimo, we can do almost anything. We have a direct link to the human’s mind. We can forbid speech, compel movements, take a human’s very awareness. Or we can leave them fully aware but unable to do anything we do not expressly allow.”
“If one of us were to use the incantesimo, we could have the human do anything,” Nic said, dropping his head and staring down at his boots.
“But you can release the incantesimo, right?”
“Si.”
“And the human won’t be harmed?”
“No.”
Evangeline reached up to cup his cheek. “I know you don’t want to use it.”
“My lack of desire is not the only problem, cara. You are my life mate now, and another’s blood…I cannot.”
A flush spread from the collar of her shirt, and he ached to see how far down her chest the pretty pink color spread. “Oh. But Carlo and Pietro can, right?”
“Si,” Carlo answered, bringing Nic back from his momentary fantasy. “As Nicola probably explained, use of the incantesimo is against our laws, but I believe this is a valuable exception to the rule, si?”
Nic nodded. “I will protect you, Carlo. You will not be held accountable for this.”
Evangeline took another sip of her coffee. “Okay. So let’s try to figure out how close we can get without giving ourselves away.” With a tap on the tablet screen, she zoomed out on the map. Huddled together, fueling themselves with pot after pot of coffee, they formulated a plan.
30
As the sun trekked overhead, they packed up what they’d need to keep them safe in the forest. Spare ammunition, water, protein bars, camping blankets, and large insulated bags of blood.
Evangeline watched Carlo and Pietro guide the motorbikes off the back of the truck. “Are those things safe?” she asked, unable to hide the tremble from her voice.
Nic wound his arms around her waist from behind and pressed a kiss to her neck, right over her bonding mark. “Si, sweet one. Also…fun.”
She snorted. “You have a very skewed definition of fun.” With the next breath, she sobered. “Or I do. Shit. There’s so much of the world I don’t know anything about.”
“You will learn, cara.” Nic released her, then strapped his pack to his chest so she could ride behind him. Throwing his leg over the seat, he grinned at her. “Time for your first lesson.”
As she settled on the seat, the engine roared to life, vibrating between her thighs. Nic spoke directly to her mind. “I will always protect you, Evangeline. Hold onto me.”
The bike lurched forward, and she yelped and tightened her grip. The trees and mile markers on the freeway flew by at a dizzying speed, too fast for her to focus. Eventually, she just closed her eyes and rested her cheek against Nic’s back.
“Stay calm, cara. We are perfectly safe.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re practically immortal.”
As they turned off the highway and took to the trails, she thought her teeth might rattle out of her head. Nausea churned in her stomach, and when they finally reached the rendezvous point, she wanted to throw up.
“You are all right now,” Nic said as he pried her fingers apart, then helped her off the bike. Her knees threatened to buckle, and he caught her, then led her over to one of the sturdier trees.
Vittoria rushed over to them. “You are too pale, Evangeline.” She held out a hand. “May I check your pulse?”
Evangeline complied, letting Vittoria press cool fingers to her wrist. “A little rapid. But not dangerous. Nicola, she needs some water.”
“I am sorry, tesoro. I did not think the ride would be so hard on you.”
Evangeline leaned against him until she felt her heartbeat slow. “I know. Perhaps we should have started with a nice, smooth car ride? Or a bicycle?”
Thrashing in the undergrowth interrupted their laughter. Carlo hoisted his rifle. Nic wrapped his arms around Evangeline, pulling her down behind the bike. She shoved him, reaching for her own pistol, but he tightened his grip. “Let me guard you.”
“I can fight.”
He held her still, despite her struggles. When Pietro burst through the blackberry bushes, panting heavily, Nic released her. Evangeline pushed him back, and he landed heavily on his ass, his head smacking against the bike’s manifold.
“Dammit, Evangeline! What was that for?”
“I could say the same thing to you.” She jammed her hands on her hips. “Just because we’re bonded now, doesn’t mean you can control me. You can’t use the incantesimo, so you just use force?”
Nic shook his head, almost snorting as he got to his feet. “This is what I feared. I do not know how to let you risk your life. I cannot think when you are in danger.”
Evangeline cupped his cheeks, kissing him tenderly before she grabbed his wrist and twisted hard. He fell to his knees before he could break away.
“Merda! What did I do now?”
“I’m not some delicate flower you need to protect, Nic. I can take care of myself.” She extended her hand, helped him up again. “Come on. The best hunting grounds are about four miles from here. We need to go quickly and quietly.”
Less than twenty minutes later, Evangeline raised her fist, and the group stopped silently behind her. She pointed skyward, and they scrambled up some of the larger pine trees. Once they’d settled into boughs that could support their weight, Evangeline reached out to Nic’s mind.
“Portal. My two o’clock.”
Nic sent a few hand signals to Pietro, who repeated the gestures for Carlo and Vittoria. Crashing footfalls a dozen feet away signaled someone’s approach. Moments later, Daren strode through the trees, stooped, and plucked a few leaves, tucking them into his pack.
Evangeline met Carlo’s eyes and nodded. God, she didn’t want to see what happened next, but she couldn’t look away. She belonged to this world now, and she had to get used to it.
When Daren was directly under him, Carlo dropped lightly to the ground and hooked an arm around Daren’s head, covering his mouth to muffle his cries. Vittoria jumped from her tree next, striding over to Daren and whipping out a knife. She nicked the man’s wrist and brought his hand to her nose before nodding her approval.
When Carlo sunk his fangs into Daren’s neck, Evangeline stifled her cry
.
Daren stopped struggling, his eyes rolling back in his head. A moment later, Carlo released him and sealed the wounds so they’d be invisible to all but a vampire’s eyes. Daren didn’t move. His arms hung at his sides, his face slack. At Carlo’s nod, Nic and Evangeline climbed down and approached.
“Answer my questions truthfully,” Carlo said. “Do you know what sort of security measures guard the access tunnels to the catacombs?”
“Yes.”
“Describe them to me.”
“There are motion sensors in a fifty-foot radius surrounding the panels.”
“How do you know this?” Carlo asked.
“I have to disable them from time to time to clean the CO2 scrubbers.”
“Anything else?”
“The panels are electrified.” His monotone disturbed Evangeline, and she reached for Nic’s hand, needing the connection between them to calm her.
“Tonight, at half-past midnight, you will disable the motion sensors as well as the electricity that flows through the panels. You will then return to your room and go back to sleep. When you wake, you will be free and will remember nothing of today, or what you did to disable the security. You were alone in the forest. You did not meet anyone or see anything out of the ordinary. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Count to ten, and then you will return to awareness.” Carlo prodded Daren’s back, and the young man stumbled forward as Evangeline and the vampires returned to the trees. Ten seconds later, Daren shook his head as if to clear cobwebs and turned his gaze back to the forest floor, continuing his foraging.
“And now we wait.” Evangeline let Nic lead her back to the bikes and settled against him to keep warm.
While Evangeline slept, Nic stroked the silk of her hair, memorized every curve of her face, her wide mouth, the small, barely upturned nose, and the dark circles that ghosted her eyes. She shifted, and her fingers tightened on his shirt. He hated the idea of bringing her back into the catacombs. But they needed her. He’d seen nothing of the layout except for that single room that contained his cell and a bit of the hall. But how could he possibly protect the person—the human—who now meant more to him than his own life?
Secrets in Blood Page 26