Venice Vampyr - The Beginning

“She’s stronger than you think. And don’t worry about my wife. I know how to take care of her.” Yes, she would be a little sore from the ferocity with which he’d rutted on her, but he’d make it up to her by eating her sweet * and soothing her flesh with his tongue soon.

Raphael let himself fall into his armchair as Dante settled back into his own. He had to forget about his new wife for a moment. “I discovered one of the Guardians.”

His brother sat forward with a start. “Of the Holy Waters?”

“Yes, the very same.” He motioned his head toward the place were Isabella slept. “Her late husband’s cousin is one of them. I saw the ring. He wore their symbol.”

Dante’s face flashed with surprise. “In public?”

“Not exactly. He burst into Isabella’s bedchamber just as we were ...” Raphael cleared his throat. “His name is Massimo Tenderini. I want you to follow him, find out everything you can, what he does, who he meets, where he goes. Everything. He will lead us to the Guardians. We just have to be patient. Can you do that?”

Dante nodded. “Yes, nothing simpler than that. I’ll put a man on him. However—” He paused and gave him a long look. “—has it crossed your mind that your meeting Isabella and then her cousin was not by accident?”

“In what way?”

“What if she was put in your path so you would then in turn lead the Guardians to our kind? Don’t you think it was a little too convenient that you were pushed into the canal, and she just happens to come along and rescue you? What if it was a setup? Her connection to the Guardians can’t be ignored. What if she is their spy? Their very delectable spy, if I may add.”

A stab like a giant pin prick attacked his heart. “You can’t possibly believe that. She’s an innocent.”

“Famous last words of a fool in love,” Dante chastised. “You can’t trust her.”

***

Isabella felt warmth penetrate her and her consciousness return. The voice that had jolted her out of her sleep was unfamiliar.

“She’s my wife,” she heard Raphael proclaim.

“Which is still something you’ll have to explain to me,” the other male voice continued. “What are you going to do when she finds out?”

“She won’t find out.”

Isabella’s heart stopped. What did Raphael not want her to find out? What did he have to hide?

“You can’t keep it a secret from her forever.”

“I’ll be careful,” Raphael assured him. “She’ll never need to know. And besides, she’ll help me get close to Massimo.”

Massimo? Why did her new husband want to get close to her cousin? What did he want from him? She’d married a man she knew nothing about. Had she made a huge mistake? Would it have been better to be ruined rather than find herself married to a man who was using her for whatever wicked scheme?

“Unless of course she was planning all this. Didn’t you say that her cousin burst into her bedchamber when you were fucking her? Who would do such a thing? It’s further evidence of her involvement.”

Raphael had told the man such a private thing? How could he?

“Are you suggesting that she engineered this situation so I would have to marry her?” Raphael asked, his voice full of disbelief.

“And why wouldn’t she? If Massimo is a Guardian, he might have power over her and direct her to do what he needs done. She had to have known. No offense, little brother, but despite your considerable charms, a respectable woman doesn’t just fall into bed with you without considering the consequences.”

What were they trying to accuse her of? Massimo wasn’t her guardian. She was an independent woman, or at least she had been until earlier today when she’d married Raphael. Perspiration built on her face. What had she done?

“I concede that the situation was unusual, but you can’t ignore the fact that with her falling into my lap, our battle might soon be over.”

Isabella pushed back the tears that threatened to burst to the surface, tears of disappointment. She’d thought Raphael desired her, maybe would even fall in love with her, but all he wanted was to use her for something she didn’t even understand. She couldn’t open her eyes, didn’t want to face reality. She was married to a man who cared nothing about her.

“Fine, I will contact our friends and see what we can find out. In the meantime, you’d better take good care of your wife. And I suggest you don’t let her out of your sight. If she’s scheming against us, you know what you’ll have to do.”

Isabella held her breath, but there was no answer from Raphael. Instead, she heard him get up, heard his heels on the wooden floor come closer. When the sofa depressed beside her hip, she knew he’d sat down. When his hand stroked over her arm, she flinched.

“Wake up, my angel.” He pulled her up to a sitting position and held her in his embrace, stroking his hands over her back.

She couldn’t pretend any longer to be asleep, but was unable to form a word. “Hmm.”