The Roman (The Florentine 3)

“Come closer,” the Prince beckoned.

The servant moved close enough to whisper. “The villa has been breached. I’m told your pet was able to escape into the tunnels.”

William gripped Theodore by the shirt. “When?”

“Within the hour. It took time for the message to be relayed because the intruders held Lucia and Ambrogio hostage.”

“What news of my pet?”

“None, my Lord.” Theodore blinked rapidly. “She must still be in the tunnels.”

“Find out from Ambrogio if there’s any way for her location to be determined. Report back immediately.”

Theodore nodded, and the Prince released him. “What is the state of the villa?”

“The servants are trying to repair the damage done by the intruders.” Theodore cleared his throat. “Ambrogio reports that one of the men wore a clerical collar and spoke of intelligence sources.”

A strange kind of silence filled the council chamber as both the Prince and Aoibhe absorbed the servant’s ominous revelation.

“Tell Ambrogio to ready himself in case we need to initiate the Geneva protocol. And fetch Gregor,” the Prince added, pressing a fist over his mouth.

The servant bowed a second time and scurried away.

“What’s the Geneva protocol?” Aoibhe asked, her expression curious.

“None of your concern,” the Prince snapped.

Wisely, Aoibhe clamped her mouth shut.

A few minutes later, Gregor appeared, looking a good deal more harried than usual. “My Lord?”

“We have a security breach. Armed men, one with a clerical collar.” The Prince glared at his head of security. “Perhaps you were going to inform me of this?”

“Pardon, my Lord.” Gregor bowed very low. “I was just informed. But I can tell you that the priest is a member of the Curia, a man called Kavanaugh. The team appear to be one of the Curia’s special forces units.”

Aoibhe gasped.

The Prince cursed. “How many are they?”

“A unit of ten, plus the priest, my Lord.”

“Where are they now?”

“They were seen entering the tunnel system near the Piazzale Michelangelo.”

“Wake the army and place them on the highest alert. Send the General to me immediately. Send a message to Rome, informing the king that the Curia has made an illegal incursion. Ask for his support.

“Tell Commander Borek to put together a team of his own and have them report to me here.” The Prince stood, his black velvet robe billowing behind him as he strode down the stairs from his throne.

“Yes, my Lord. Shall I inform the commander of his mission?”

The Prince stopped. “We’re hunting Curia. Tell them to arm accordingly.”

If Gregor could have gone pale, he would have. He bowed quickly and raced out of the council chamber, all decorum cast aside.

“You can’t be serious.” Aoibhe stood, her expression drawn and anxious.

The Prince glared. “At the moment, there are only eleven of them. They must be destroyed before others join them. Even if the Roman sends soldiers immediately using modern transport, they won’t arrive before sunset. We have no choice but to engage the invaders now.”

“We can’t fight the Curia and win.”

“But we can die trying.” He gave her a challenging look. “You have a chance to extend your life, Aoibhe. Join me or die on the spot.”

Aoibhe withdrew a step. “You would commit suicide? For what? A city? A pet?”

The Prince’s eyes glittered. “I’ve grown tired of your insolence. Choose.”

She watched him for a long moment. She nodded.

The Prince turned on his heel and approached the door, with Aoibhe trailing after him.

Chapter Forty-Four

RAVEN SCREAMED and nearly dropped the flashlight.

The thing that had crawled over her foot retreated, its own feet making a scratching noise against the hard dirt floor.

She shone the light ahead in the tunnel and saw a large rat trotting away. It turned and stared back at her.

She shivered.

The tunnel was damp, and the scent of earth and decay filled her nostrils.

She kept her flashlight pointed toward the ground in front of her as she leaned on her cane, her eyes darting warily to and fro.

When she’d gone a thousand feet, she pulled out the cell phone. It was different from her own, but simply arranged. There were only a few applications visible on the screen.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t get a signal.

It took patience and a few minutes to check out the different applications, but eventually she discovered a compass. She found north, which meant she could walk in the direction of the city center. She doubted the tunnels were dug in straight lines. That, coupled with her disability, made the journey from the Piazzale Michelangelo to the city center seem interminable.

Raven put the phone away, since it was impossible to hold it, the flashlight, and her cane all at once.

She continued walking through the tunnel, pausing from time to time in an effort to hear whether someone was coming. All she could hear was the occasional scurry of rats or the distant sound of dripping water.

A few times she passed other tunnels that branched off. On each occasion she stopped to check her compass, continuing to travel north.

She’d been on foot for almost an hour when she felt the hairs lift on the back of her neck. A sudden gust of wind swirled past her.

Something yanked the flashlight out of her hand and switched it off. She heard it thud to the ground.

A low laugh sounded nearby.

She was bathed in absolute darkness, completely disoriented. Something cool grabbed her wrist, toying with the bracelet William had given her.

“Here is the Prince’s pet. Where is your master?”

She pulled her arm away, shrinking from the direction of the voice. “He’s right behind me.”

The voice sounded amused. “I doubt that. It seems the Prince has left his precious pet all alone. How careless of him.”

“Who are you?”

The voice laughed again.

Raven’s heart began to pound. She held her hand out, attempting to locate the wall so she could inch along it. “Show yourself.”

The voice moved closer. “Reveal the spider to the fly? This is far more entertaining.”

“If you’re weak.” Raven’s hand found the wall and she began moving, tightening her grip on her cane.

“Weak?”

“If you’re a vampyre, you can see in the dark. I thought such a powerful species wouldn’t need an advantage.”

The voice growled.

Raven lifted her cane,

wielding it as a weapon.

Out of the darkness, the flashlight switched on, shining in Raven’s direction.

“I know what I look like,” she complained, squinting against the bright light. “Who are you?”

The light swung away, and Raven saw the figure of a male vampyre with thick, dark hair and glittering, dark eyes.

He smiled, arms stretched wide. “I am the resurrection of the dead.”

Chapter Forty-Five

AT THE SIGHT OF HIS LIEUTENANT, the Roman tossed the man he’d been feeding from aside, unhurriedly arranging his imperial robes to cover his lower body.

The naked man fell to the floor and was quickly removed from the throne room by a pair of Praetorian guards.

The Roman wiped blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. “Am I never to have pleasure without interruption?”

He turned his back on his lieutenant and ascended the steps to the throne. He arranged his robes leisurely, licking his lips.

“I beg pardon, your excellency, but you gave permission for me to enter.” Cato walked briskly toward the throne.

“Cave,” the Roman growled.

Cato prostrated himself before his ruler.

“Why are you here?” The Roman’s voice resumed its normal tone.

“There are disturbing reports from Florence.” Cato’s voice was muffled, as he spoke against the mosaic tile floor.

“Get up.”

Cato struggled to stand, his toga catching beneath one of his feet. “A policeman was found dead, naked, and drained of his blood in a piazza in the city center.”

“And?”

Cato frowned. “Panic has ensued, your excellency. Photographs of the body have been sent around the world. There are discussions about the existence of vampyres in Florence and the suggestion that the policeman was murdered by one.”

The Roman’s gaze fell on one of the frescoes. He studied it intently, but offered no comment.

“Your excellency, although we haven’t received any formal communication from the Curia, our spies have revealed that a small group of black robes has entered Florence.”