“Sorry.” She reddened. “It’s good to meet you, Marco.”

William gestured to his assistant. “Marco will follow you to the Uffizi this morning. After work, he will take you to your apartment so you can drop off your Vespa and pick up your things. Then he’ll drive you here.”

“I’m supposed to volunteer at the orphanage after work.” Raven clutched her knapsack awkwardly. “And I’d like to see Bruno.”

William appeared displeased. “He won’t remember your time together. The head injury combined with the blood will have affected his memory.”

“I realize that. I still want to see him.” She sounded stubborn.

“Very well.” William pressed his lips together as an indication of his displeasure. “Marco will escort you where you need to go.

“I have business to attend to in the early evening. I’ll ask Lucia to prepare dinner for you.”

“That won’t be necessary. I’ll eat with the children.”

William examined her features. “Perhaps we could watch one of your films this evening.”

She smiled. “I’d like that.”

“Good. Call Ambrogio and let him know what you need in order to show the film.”

William walked her outside to her Vespa and wrapped her in his arms. “You don’t need to worry about the inspector. He won’t bother you again.”

“Thank you.”

He gazed at her hungrily.

“I’m looking forward to tonight.”

He kissed her firmly.

A few kisses, another embrace, and she was on her Vespa, speeding down the hill toward the Arno, with Marco following in the Mercedes. A few cars behind, Ispettor Batelli trailed them.

William returned to the house and summoned Luka to the library, handing him a folded piece of paper. “I need you to travel to Florida, in America, to the cities of Orlando and St. Petersburg. Find out everything you can about the persons I’ve named. Contact me for further instructions.”

Luka unfolded the paper, read it, and placed it in his jacket pocket. With a bow, he exited the room.

William moved to the windows and looked out over his estate, lost in thought.

Chapter Forty-one

“I’m here to see Bruno Rostagno.” Raven spoke to one of the nurses on Bruno’s floor at the hospital.

“Friend or family?” The nurse didn’t bother to look up from her computer.

“Friend.” Raven shifted her weight, nervously glancing at Marco, who was standing a few feet away, looking intimidating.

The nurse was about to direct Raven to the correct room when a familiar-looking woman approached them.

“Raven, hello.” Graziella greeted her warmly, kissing both cheeks.

“Graziella, hi.” Raven smiled. “I’m just here to see Bruno.”

“Good. I’ve just arrived also. Come with me.” Graziella nodded at the nurse and took Raven’s hand, leading her down the hall.

“How is he?” she asked, concerned.

“He will come home tomorrow, I think. He was supposed to be released today but the doctor wanted to wait.”

They walked down the hall and made a left. Graziella stopped at the door to the third room.

“You say hello. I’ll come in later.”

“But you’re here. I’m sure he wants to see you first,” Raven protested, noticing that Marco had followed them.

Graziella just patted her arm and gestured to the door.

Raven’s grip tightened on her cane as she entered the room with caution. She was worried about what she was going to find.

Bruno was lying in bed, looking remarkably well. In fact, there was no evidence of his previous injuries—no bruising, no bandages, no cords or tubes attached to his body.

He looked healthier than he had before, and perhaps even a little younger.

Raven wondered if anyone else had noticed the changes.

“Hello, Bruno.” She greeted him with a cheerful wave.

He nodded at her. “Good afternoon.”

Raven’s smile faltered.

“It’s me. It’s Raven.”

Bruno examined her face for a moment and then his gaze dropped to her cane. “Of course. You live next to my grandmother. How are you?”

“I’m well, thank you.” She gestured at his hospital bed. “How are you?”

“Ready to go home.” He grimaced. “They say I’ve made a miraculous recovery, but I’m still in a hurry to get out of here.”

Raven swallowed thickly. “I heard about your accident. I’m so sorry.”

“Thanks, it was nice of you to come by. Have you seen my grandmother lately?”

“I saw her yesterday. I’ve been trying to check in on her more frequently.”

“Thank you.”

Bruno fell silent, as if he were waiting for something.

It took a moment for Raven to realize he was waiting for her to say something.

She flushed. He didn’t remember her. He didn’t look at her with longing or ask her about herself or any of the other dozen special things he’d done during their one special evening. Sadness crept over her.

Raven forced herself to remain cheerful.

“Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better. I saw your mother in the hall. Should I send her in?”

“Please. Thanks for visiting me.” Bruno flashed her a muted smile, which she returned.

“No problem. Good-bye, Bruno.”

Raven walked awkwardly from the room, leaning heavily on her cane.

When she saw Graziella in the hall, she said, “He wants to see you.”

“But you should stay longer. Come with me.” Graziella moved to take her hand but Raven shook her head.

“I’m sorry. I have plans for dinner. But I’m glad he’s all right and he’s coming home.”

“Thank you.” Graziella kissed her cheeks again before waving goodbye.

Raven nodded at Marco and they walked to the elevator. But she didn’t shed a tear until she was alone.

Chapter Forty-two

“As you can see by looking at the body, the hunters are using larger arrows, presumably shot from a crossbow.” Stefan, the vampyre physician, pointed to the gaping wound that exposed the corpse’s heart.

The Consilium members murmured in response, standing around the autopsy table.

“The cause of death?” The Prince addressed Stefan.

He held up the arrow and pointed to the barbed metal head.

“The arrow is armed with a capsule containing a powerful cardiac toxin. The capsule breaks on impact, releasing the toxin. The combination of trauma and toxin causes the heart to fail.

“Without the circulation of blood, the vampyre is weakened and potentially immobilized. I’ve identified the toxin but sent a sample to a lab in Switzerland for confirmation.”

The Prince looked grim. “Other weapons?”

“Judging from the scene where the body was found, they used holy water and salt.”

Aoibhe cursed loudly. “Have they no imagination?”

The Prince silenced Aoibhe with a look.

He turned his attention back to Stefan. “How do we combat the arrows?”

The physician appeared thoughtful for a moment.

“We could issue vests or breastplates. Armor would restrict movement, which would be detrimental in flight. There are newer materials used by various

human militaries. We could test them to see how they might hold up.”

The Prince pointed his gaze at Lorenzo. “Can you source those materials?”

He bowed. “Of course, my lord. But it will take time.”

“We haven’t got time. Get whatever you can immediately and coordinate testing with Niccolò.” The Prince nodded in his direction. “If the tests prove successful, we’ll outfit the entire principality, but each citizen must bear the cost.”

“What about the toxin?” Pierre glanced anxiously from the corpse to the physician.

Stefan stroked his chin. “I’ve identified it as doxorubicin. It’s a drug humans use to combat cancer.”

“Is there an antidote?” the Prince asked.

“Humans would take digitalis drugs to thin the blood and bolster the heart. We’ve never tested them on our kind because we haven’t had the need. We’re impervious to human toxins.”

“Or thought we were,” muttered Aoibhe.

The Prince glared at Aoibhe before directing his attention back to the doctor. “What’s your scientific opinion, then?”

Stefan shook his head. “An arrow isn’t enough to fell one of us unless it ripped the heart to pieces. That isn’t what happened to Matthias.

“The toxin isn’t enough to fell one of us, either,” Stefan observed. “It’s the combination of the two that shocks the heart, causing temporary paralysis. Once on the ground, the hunters use water and salt to prevent the victim from removing the arrow and allowing the natural regenerative processes to begin. Then they take the head.”

“The remedy?”

“Avoidance.” The physician gestured to Matthias’s body. “If digitalis or something like it were to work, it would have to be administered immediately. That isn’t an option if one is surrounded by hunters.”

“I want an antidote found,” the Prince commanded. “Impress upon the lab our urgent need.”

Stefan bowed. “Of course, but they are human scientists, ignorant of the true nature of their clients. I’d have to give them vampyre blood and a very imaginative explanation in order for them to produce an antidote.”

“Then that’s what you must do. Work through the human intelligence network, if necessary. Impress upon them the need to use mind control or physical coercion on the lab staff, as needed.”

Tags: Sylvain Reynard The Florentine Romance
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