The Raven (The Florentine #1)(77)
Author: Sylvain Reynard

Disturbingly, however, she’d drawn the faces of William and herself without realizing it.

Frustrated, she tossed the paper and charcoals into her knapsack and went to the bathroom to wash her hands. The drawing was ruined. And it certainly hadn’t helped her put thoughts of William aside.

He was handsome, it was true. But he was dangerous.

He kissed like an angel. Or rather, what Raven thought an angel would kiss like if there were such things.

But he was cruel.

Her subconscious had placed interesting words into his mouth.

I won’t let such beauty die.

But William would let beauty die. Moreover, he’d bring about its death directly, by killing Professor Emerson.

She chose a pair of black pants and a green blouse to wear to work, dressing listlessly. She pinned her hair into a bun at the nape of her neck and retrieved her glasses from the nightstand, where they sat next to William’s bracelet.

He hadn’t taken it.

As she looked at the gold, at the fleur-de-lis in the center, it occurred to her that returning it would give her an excuse to visit him. Then she could speak to him about the Emersons.

It was a flimsy excuse but all she had.

She placed the bracelet on her wrist, wrapped a scarf around her neck, and exited the apartment. After locking her door, she saw a woman on the landing, preparing to enter Lidia’s apartment.

The woman bore a striking resemblance to Bruno, with the same dark hair and eyes.

“Good morning,” she said. “I’m Raven.”

The woman’s face flashed with recognition.

“I’m Graziella, Bruno’s mother.”

“Um, I heard Bruno was in the hospital. Is he okay?”

Graziella appeared upset.

“He was attacked the other night. But he’s doing much better. We think he will be able to come home tomorrow.”

Raven exhaled her relief. “That’s good news. How is Lidia?”

“Not so good. But a specialist from Rome is coming to examine her.” She nodded toward the apartment. “She was refusing treatment until she heard her case had come to the attention of a distinguished oncologist. She decided she’d see him.”

Raven found herself heartened by the news. “I’m glad to hear it. I didn’t know she was sick. I’m so sorry I didn’t try to help earlier.”

“Would you like to come inside? Say hello?”

“Of course.”

Raven glanced at her old Swatch discreetly. She had plenty of time to get to work.

When they entered the apartment, Dolcezza, the cat, darted toward the door.

Raven hung back, not knowing how the cat would react to her. It had hissed at her only a week previous.

But the cat seemed to have forgotten her previous bad temper and began threading itself through her legs.

Raven leaned over to pet the cat, hearing its throaty purr.

“Mamma, you have a visitor,” Graziella announced.

Lidia was over seventy and small and rounded, with curly gray hair and dark, wise eyes. She was sitting on her couch in the living room, watching television. As soon as she saw Raven, she smiled.

“Hello, my dear.” She waved her over and Raven crossed the room.

Lidia patted the couch next to her.

Raven sat down, placing her knapsack on the floor. “I’m so sorry to hear that you’re sick.”

“I’m fine, just old. How did your date with my grandson go?”

“Oh.” Raven shifted awkwardly. “Well, something came up and he couldn’t meet me.”

“Really?” Lidia frowned. “That isn’t like him. He told me he was looking forward to it. I’ll have to speak to him. But you know he had an accident.”

“Yes, I heard that. I’m so sorry.”

“He’s getting better. Now, what do you want for breakfast?” Lidia moved as if to stand, but Raven stopped her.

“I should be making you breakfast.”

“I can still fix breakfast. I’m not dead.”

Raven shot a worried look at Graziella, who rolled her eyes to the ceiling.

“I’m just on my way to work at the Uffizi. Maybe we could have breakfast another time.”

“Anytime. Just knock on the door. But not tomorrow; tomorrow the doctor from Rome is coming.”

Raven smiled and squeezed her neighbor’s hand. “Good. I’ll see you soon. If you need anything, please let me know. I’m just next door.”

Raven hugged Lidia and took leave of Graziella, wishing with all her might that the specialist might find a way to help her neighbor.

It was with great surprise that Raven saw Luka standing in the hallway of her building after she left Lidia’s apartment. She’d thought that William would withdraw his protection after what had happened the night before.

She didn’t bother asking him questions about William, for she knew Luka wouldn’t answer. His lordship had trained his servants well and they always obeyed orders.

Luka was human. As far as Raven knew, all William’s servants were human. Although at first she couldn’t tell the difference between a human and a vampyre, now she found it easy. Vampyres were paler of skin, stronger, and more imposing physically than human beings.

An air of danger and threat clung to them, as well.

As she exited her building with Luka, she didn’t see Ispettor Batelli watching her from across the piazza. Nor did she see him following the Mercedes from a distance.

She spent a quiet but constructive day in the restoration lab, working on the Birth of Venus. Patrick and Gina stopped by to invite her to lunch and the trio walked to a nearby osteria, on the other side of Piazza Signoria.

Luka drove Raven home after work, where she prepared a simple dinner, packing up half of it to deliver to Lidia. Lidia was grateful for the gift and prevailed on Raven to stay and enjoy a glass of wine.

Just as the sun was setting, Raven took leave of her neighbor and descended the staircase to the street. She put on her helmet, climbed on her Vespa, and drove to the Piazzale Michelangelo.

The Emersons’ time was decidedly short. She didn’t know how long the hunters were going to remain in the city. She didn’t know when William would decide to go after the professor.

She was determined to see him and try once more to change his mind.

When she approached the gate to his villa, she heard a voice from the security speaker. She hadn’t even announced her arrival.

“State your business.”

“Um, it’s Raven. Raven Wood. I’m here to see his lordship.”

“His lordship is not at home.”