The Roman(24)
“I would have given it to you.”
“Anything?”
“Anything,” Raven spoke without hesitation.
“Why?”
“Because I love you. Because you’re my sister.”
The words hung in the air between them.
At length, Cara broke the silence. “I wonder if I would have behaved the same way if I were the older sister.”
“Of course.”
“Not of course.” Cara flipped her long, blond hair behind her shoulder. “Most people only worry about themselves. You’ve always worried about everyone else.”
Raven avoided her eyes.
Cara continued. “I’ve always known that if I was in trouble, you’d help me. Apart from Dan, you’re the only person I trust.”
“Thank you.” Raven’s voice cracked, her eyes filling with tears.
“Don’t cry, sweetie.” Cara smiled and touched her sister’s face. “I’m sorry I flipped out on you. Dan is sorry, too. That’s why we came to see you. I don’t understand why your vampyre boyfriend won’t let us go back to Florence to help Dan.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. William had news.”#p#分页标题#e#
Cara sat up. “Of Dan? Is he okay?”
“He was badly injured.”
“I know that.” Cara dusted grass off her clothes. “That’s why I need to get to him.”
“Cara, Dan’s injuries were really severe. When the ambulance arrived, they tried to revive him and—”
Cara interrupted. “Said who?”
“William. That’s what he was telling me in Italian, back in Perugia. I’m so sorry.” Raven shook her head.
“No.” Cara stood, placing her hands on her hips. “It must be a mistake.”
“I wish it were.” A tear fell on Raven’s cheek.
Before Raven could rise from the ground, William was at her side. “Cassita?”
“You don’t know him.” Cara whirled on William. “You don’t know what he looks like. You could be mistaken.”
William offered Raven his hand and helped her to her feet. “I never met him, but my sources are reliable. His body was found in Raven’s apartment building.”
“I don’t believe that. I would have felt something. I would have known.” Cara looked around wildly. “We have to go back. No one knows him there. He’s probably in the hospital, unconscious.”
“Cara, listen to me.” Raven tried to put her arms around her sister, but she pushed her away.
“We have to go back.” Cara grabbed William’s arm. “We have to go now!”
Raven inhaled loudly at the sight of her sister grabbing the Prince of Florence.
William merely inclined his head to look at Cara’s hand, wrapped around his bicep. His expression was illegible.
“Cara, let go,” Raven whispered.
“She’s grieving.” William spoke Italian, and his eyes sought Raven’s. “Am I going to have to use mind control?”
“She’s been through enough,” Raven replied, also in Italian.
“If she becomes hysterical, I shall have no choice.”
Cara pulled on William’s arm. “I want to go back to Florence. I want to see my fiancé. Please.”
William regarded her for a long moment. His expression softened. “You are correct; I didn’t see the body. And of course, you weren’t there to identify him.”
“See?” Cara released William’s arm and gave her sister a hopeful look. “It’s mistaken identity.”
“I can take you to your priest in Rome,” William offered. “He can contact the Florence police and make enquiries. It’s too far to travel to Florence tonight. Others of my kind might attack us, and there are hunters who would like nothing more than to kill us—all of us, including you and your sister.”
Cara’s eyebrows crinkled. “Is Italy really that dangerous?”
The Prince ignored her question. “Our best course of action for you and your fiancé is to depart for Rome immediately.”
“William,” Raven’s voice was a plea.
“Let her have her denial,” he responded in Italian. “The truth will confront her soon enough.”
Cara dusted off her jeans again. “The sooner we get to Rome, the sooner we can see Father Kavanaugh and head back to Florence. Let’s go.”
Raven turned her back on her sister, furiously wiping away another tear.
“Cassita.” William placed his lips to her cheek. “Trust me to treat your sister with care.”
She nodded, stifling a sniffle.
William lifted his voice to address the detachment. “We depart for Rome. From now until we return to Florence, assume all your words will be heard by our enemies. Say nothing that will compromise our purpose.” His eyes fixed on the women as he switched to English. “That includes you, as well. Say nothing of your priest. Say nothing of your fiancé.”#p#分页标题#e#