Out of the Ashes

by Lori Dillon

  Sera. What was he going to do about her?

  Common sense told him to request a transfer to somewhere else on the dig. Maybe he could work with Sera’s friend Olympia? She seemed to get along with him well enough. Or better yet, he should just quit and find another job somewhere else outside the ruins, one that would allow him free access to observe the German’s movements. But no better place existed. He needed to be on the inside, to find out where they were hiding munitions.

  Neither of the choices was good—leave now and possibly sacrifice the mission, or stay and risk being discovered and shot as a spy.

  Man, this sucked. So much for thinking this would be a simple mission. Of course, nothing about the mission had been simple since meeting Sera. With a heavy heart, David realized that was the hardest part of all. His greatest reason for leaving was the main reason he wanted to stay.

  Sera.

  He was so focused on figuring out what he was going to do, he nearly knocked down poor Heberto coming the other way in the street. He reached out and steadied the old man by his thin shoulders.

  “Sorry about that. Are you all right?”

  “Oh, fine, fine. These old bones aren’t as brittle as you think.” Heberto brushed some dust off the front of his khaki vest, smiling up at him all the while. “So, how are things going over in your area?”

  Here it is, he thought. Here’s my chance to get out of this situation before it’s too late.

  “Actually, I need to talk to you about that. I’m afraid I can’t work here anymore.”

  Heberto’s smile instantly vanished.

  “Oh, dear. Why not?”

  “It’s just that… well, I don’t think I can work here anymore.”

  “Really?” Heberto’s brow creased in confusion. “I thought you and Serafina were getting along.”

  “We’re getting along just fine.” Too fine. “It’s not that.”

  The old man placed a grandfatherly hand on David’s shoulder, and they started walking down the street together.

  “Now, I know Serafina can be a bit of a trial. Sometimes she can even get downright bossy.”

  “No, no. It’s nothing Sera has done.” It’s who she is that’s the problem.

  “Oh, then what is it?”

  She’s half-American. She speaks English. She could figure out who I am and blow my cover. She could jeopardize the whole mission. All valid reasons to avoid her, but he couldn’t give a single one of them to Heberto.

  The old man seemed to sense David’s hesitation.

  “You have to understand some things about Serafina. She hasn’t exactly had the easiest life…”

  I know, she told me all about it.

  “… and it takes her a while to warm up to strangers.”

  David had to choke back a humorless laugh. Hardly. She just about burst into flames when I kissed her. Both of us did.

  “But believe me, once she trusts you and lets you get close, you’ll have no greater ally.”

  Sure, until she finds out I’ve been lying to her all along, and I break that trust into a thousand pieces.

  David looked up to find Heberto had walked him all the way to the street leading to their dig site. He could see Sera down the road, working alone under the canvas tent.

  Heberto patted him gently on the shoulder, bringing David’s attention back to the old man standing beside him. He looked at David with eyes that spoke of wisdom learned through decades of life experiences.

  “David, I’ve known Serafina since she was born. She’s been like a granddaughter to us. Whatever it is, you can trust her. Take a chance. You may be surprised at what you receive in return.” Heberto smiled and walked away.

  David watched him go. Why was it he felt the old man knew something he didn’t?

  He turned back to find Sera watching him. Well, he was here now. He had no choice but to trust her, at least for another day.

  As he walked toward her, he wondered what she would do if she found out he was an American spy. Probably shoot him on the spot.

  She stared at him with her fathomless blue eyes. What was she thinking? What was she feeling? She looked unsure, tentative. Was she experiencing the same emotions he was?

  The uncomfortable silence seemed to expand in the space between them, until he thought it might explode from the tension.

  “You left early on Friday.”

  Well, at least she was brave enough to face the subject head on. Coward that he was, he’d left the site that day, running like a frightened dog with his tail tucked between his legs. It had been wishful thinking that she might have forgotten that part.

  “Yes, well.” What could he say? Your confession scared the hell out of me, but kissing you scared me even more, so I got the hell out of there as fast as I could. “What happened between us… it was a mistake. It shouldn’t have happened.”

  One thin brow arched at him under the brim of her hat. “A mistake?” She bit out the last word through clenched teeth.

  “Yes… no. I mean, I can’t…we shouldn’t… it’s probably not a good idea for us to…”

  “I see.”

  No, she didn’t. And he wasn’t helping things, tripping over his own tongue like a virgin schoolboy.

  “Is it because of what I am?”

  Yes. “No, it’s not that.” Jesus, he couldn’t think when she looked at him with those big, blue eyes brimming with wariness and vulnerability.

  “Then what is it?”

  The tone of her voice said she didn’t believe him. Who could blame her? He evidently wasn’t doing a very good job of lying. What she said was the truth, but he couldn’t tell her that.

  “Is there…” Sera bit her lower lip, obviously trying to hold back whatever question she was about to ask. She finally asked it anyway. “Is there someone else?”

  “Yes.” He jumped on the excuse. And her name is America.

  He regretted his answer as soon as he saw the hurt flash in her eyes. She turned away and ducked back under her tent. Damn, he hated to lie to her.

  David sighed and walked over to pick up his shovel. It was probably better this way, letting her believe there was another woman. Maybe it would be all he needed to keep his distance. And distance was what he needed right now. Like it or not, he had a secret to keep, even if he had to hurt her to do it.

  *

  “Gli uomini sono feccia.” Men are scum.

  “Hear! Hear!” Olympia clinked her glass of wine to Sera’s, then caught the disconcerted look of the elderly woman sitting across from her. “Well, except for Heberto, of course,” she conceded to Maria, their third drinking partner.

  The three women sat at a tiny table in a small café. They’d been there for nearly an hour and were on their second bottle of wine. It wasn’t an expensive bottle by any means, but it served its purpose.

  “Well, of course not Heberto.” Maria toasted with her own glass and took a tiny sip. “Although he does have his moments.”

  “Yes, but even his few moments probably can’t compare to the rest of the male race,” Sera grumbled.

  Maria reached over and patted her hand.

  “There now, dear. Don’t throw all the grapes out because one has a worm in it. I’m sure there’s someone out there who’s just perfect for you.”

  Sera shook her head. “I doubt it. At least I’ve certainly yet to meet him.”

  Maria frowned, then smiled hopefully at her. “Well, what about that nice young man you’re working with?”

  Olympia nearly choked on her wine. “He’s the scum she’s talking about.”

  “Really?” Maria looked surprised, glancing back and forth between Sera and Olympia. “Heberto says he seems like such a pleasant young man.”

  “Yes, a true gentleman. One that kisses me one day and tells me he has a girlfriend the next.”

  Now it was Maria’s turn to sputter. “But he can’t have a girlfriend.”

  “Why not?” Sera asked. “It’s the story of my life. Fall for a guy, then
find out there’s another woman waiting in the wings.”

  If the truth be told, she was angrier at herself than David. She’d let her guard down around him. Again. She never should have done that. For heaven’s sake, he even had her thinking of herself as Sera now.

  What was it about him that got under her skin? How could he get her to forget herself so easily? And why did he seem almost… familiar?

  She groaned inwardly, recalling their kiss in the pit. My God, I practically threw myself at the man. How desperate am I?

  Maria’s large eyes opened wider as she stared at Sera, her interest suddenly piqued.

  “So you’ve fallen for him, have you?”

  Apparently, Maria was choosing to ignore the “other woman” part of the story.

  Sera casually waved her hand in the air, while inside she desperately wished she could take back the words.

  “No, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that, well, I thought he might be different. But apparently, he’s not.”

  The disappointment tasted bitter in her mouth. She took a big sip of wine to wash down the foul taste.

  “This just can’t be. It has to be a mistake,” Maria mumbled, then turned to Sera. “Perhaps you misunderstood him?”

  “Oh, I don’t think so.” She chuckled humorlessly. “I asked him point blank if there was someone else, and he said yes. It doesn’t get any clearer than that.”

  Maria still looked confused. “I just don’t understand it. This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

  “What wasn’t supposed to happen?” Olympia tore a piece of bread from the loaf they were sharing and popped it in her mouth. “What are you talking about?”

  Maria paled and looked guilty at being caught talking to herself. Lowering her eyes, she began tracing the pattern in the white lace tablecloth with her finger.

  “Oh, don’t mind me. I’m just an old woman rambling on about fate and destiny.” She sighed and cast a pitying look in Sera’s direction. “It just seems that after all you’ve been through, it’s time for you to have a chance at love, that’s all.”

  Sera picked up her glass of wine and watched as the light from the candle on the table refracted in its burgundy depths.

  “Well, Maria, I suppose love just isn’t meant for someone like me. It seems that the Fates or Destiny or whatever’s out there has screwed up once again.”

  *

  Hershel paced the floor of the dimly lit living room, glancing at the clock on the mantel as it slowly ticked away each passing minute.

  Ten thirty-six.

  Where on Earth could Marsha be? She’d sent a boy with a note saying she’d run into Serafina and Olympia and was going to have dinner with them. That had been at half past five. Honestly, how long did it take three women to eat?

  As if in answer, he heard the front door to the building open and close. The sound of shuffling feet and muffled giggles echoed down the center hallway. He jerked open the front door to the apartment to find Serafina propping a nearly limp Marsha against the doorframe.

  “My stars, what’s going on here?”

  Marsha’s head popped up, bobbing precariously on her thin neck. She squinted at Hershel, finally appearing to focus her bleary eyes on his face.

  “None of your business, Signore Man.”

  The smell of cheap wine wafted to his nose, telling him all he needed to know. She was blind drunk.

  “Maria! What has gotten into you?”

  Serafina transferred Marsha’s weight into Hershel’s arms, then looked at him through her own bloodshot eyes.

  “Be careful, He-Heberto,” she warned him in a slurred voice. “She’sh had a good dose of male bashing tonight. She jus’ might turn on you while you sleep.”

  “Male bashing? What do you mean?”

  “It’s all Da-hic-vid’s fault.” Marsha punched Hershel in the arm, startling him so badly he nearly dropped her. “Men are pigs.”

  Her wobbly head plopped on his chest, where she closed her eyes and proceeded to snore softly.

  Oh, no. What had David done now? Hershel looked from Marsha to Serafina and back again. And what had the two women done to his poor wife?

  “Sorry, Heberto.” Serafina turned and wove her way to the base of the stairs, bumping into the wall before she got there. “Olympia and I corrupted her tonight. Be prepared. She’s probably going to wake up mad as hell at you in the morning, but won’t remember why.”

  She started up the steps, stumbling on the second one. Gripping the rail tighter, she concentrated on taking the next step carefully, as if her life depended on it.

  “Why would she be mad at me?”

  Serafina snorted. “Because you’re a man.”

  Hershel watched her stagger up the rest of the stairs and listened as she tumbled into her apartment and slammed the door.

  Closing his own door, he shifted Marsha’s wilted form in his arms. As tiny as she was, her dead weight felt like a wet sack of cement.

  He looked down at her sleeping face, with her mouth sagging open and tiny snores growling from the back of her throat. Why, he hadn’t seen Marsha this shnockered in over two thousand years.

  “Come, dear. Let’s get you to bed.”

  As he half-dragged his wife to their bedroom, Hershel was already dreading tomorrow. It wasn’t going to be pretty.

  Chapter 14

  The chunk-thunk, chunk-thunk of David’s shoveling was giving Sera a pounding headache. Of course, the vat of wine she had drunk the night before wasn’t helping matters any.

  The talk—or what she remembered of it—with Olympia and Maria had eased some of her wounded feelings. But not all of them. The sting of his rejection still hurt.

  When she thought back on it, though, she couldn’t really blame him for what he’d done. After all, she’d been crying and hanging all over him like a clinging vine. What red-blooded male wouldn’t take advantage of the situation? She just wished the red-blooded male in question hadn’t already been attached to someone else at the time.

  At least she had to give David credit for stopping things before they went too far. If it had been left to her, who knows what might have happened. Sex in the excavation pit? At the time, the prospect had seemed appealing, but now the thought made her ill.

  Men. She should have known better. Hadn’t she learned anything from her past mistakes?

  “So this is where they stuck you.”

  Speaking of past mistakes. Sera groaned inwardly and looked up into the face of Giovanni Ragusa. Her day just wasn’t going to get any better, was it?

  “I suppose it was too much to hope you’d never venture over into this area of the ruins.”

  Giovanni smiled, but the humor never quite reached his piercing dark eyes. He glanced around the site, and she could tell from the way he pursed his lips that he was mentally criticizing how she’d chosen to set it up. His scrutiny passed briefly over the area where David was working and shot back again. Following the direction of his gaze, she turned to see David staring back at the two of them. Both men straightened their spines and stood taller as they appeared to size up each other.

  How typically male, she thought.

  “You can stop snooping, Giovanni,” Sera said, bringing his attention back to her. “We haven’t gone deep enough yet to find any artifacts for you to steal.”

  He actually had the audacity to look offended.

  “I don’t steal artifacts.”

  “Steal the credit, then.” Damn, but his claiming the silver cup still rankled her.

  “Poor, poor Serafina. Still touchy over that little misunderstanding, are we? I would have thought you would be over that by now.” He shook his head as if he were talking to a disgruntled child. “Besides, look at what you have now. Just what you’ve always wanted—your own dig site.”

  She rose to her feet and climbed out of the hole so he wouldn’t be looking down on her quite as much.

  “That’s right, and anything found here will be credited to me. No more misunders
tandings.”

  Standing over six feet tall, he still laughed down at her.

  “Yes, but unfortunately this is a poor section of the town. Nothing but small merchants’ shops and vendors’ stalls. No rich villas or temples. I doubt you will find anything of importance here.”

  “Then I guess that means you’ll be leaving?”

  Giovanni might have taken the hint had David not chosen that moment to head to the trucks with another load of debris. He rolled the dirt-filled wheelbarrow up to them, nearly running over Giovanni’s right foot.

  “Oh, sorry about that,” he said to Giovanni, but she could tell by the mock-innocent look on his face and the flip tone of his voice that he really didn’t mean it. She had to bite her lip to keep from laughing as Giovanni jumped out of the way at the last minute.

  The two men glared at each other, and she could practically smell the testosterone permeating the air.

  Ridiculous. Neither of them gave a fig about her, but being the pig-headed men that they were, neither was willing to back down.

  Glancing back and forth between them, she was struck by the differences between the two men. Both had black hair, but where Giovanni’s was shiny and smooth, David’s was soft and wavy. Giovanni had high cheekbones and a strong, prominent jaw line, while David had full lips and a dimple in the middle of his chin.

  Both were tall, dark, and handsome—trouble times two and more than she could deal with on top of her morning-after hangover.

  With a heavy sigh, she did the inevitable and introduced them.

  “Giovanni Ragusa, this is David Corbelli, my assistant. Giovanni is one of the senior archeologists at the ruins.”

  David wiped his hand on his sweaty shirtfront before offering it to Giovanni.

  “I know. I’ve seen him around.”

  Giovanni’s lip curled slightly as he looked at David’s offered hand. Finally, he took it, the muscles of his forearm bunching as he shook it with undue effort. David didn’t even flinch, returning the shake with a grip that turned his knuckles white.

  Sera couldn’t control the roll of her eyes. If she didn’t separate them soon, they’d probably start arm wrestling in front of her to prove who was more manly.