Captivated

Salvatore

After Angelina’s initial teasing, we settled down in the car. She’d insisted on sitting in the front. Even Luca’s laidback demeanour was experiencing a hiccup. Our mate was a terrible backseat driver. I honestly thought he was going to pull over and have a heated discussion with her. Luca was right though; her driving was erratic. We were surprised she’d never had an accident.

“What’s that smoke?” Angelina peered out of the window.

It was just before the turnoff to the stately home and the outbuilding which had been turned into her gallery-cum-studio. The smoke appeared to be emanating from that direction.

“I don’t like this,” I said out loud.

“Let’s just get there.” Angelina’s tone was filled with urgency.

By the time we headed down the road to where the building was situated, there were already two fire appliances in attendance. Luca stopped when a police officer put up his hand to us.

“Sorry, sir, but you must turn around.”

“Why? My gallery is down that road.” Angelina’s voice wavered.

“I’m sorry, Miss. There was a fire in the early hours. Electrical fault, they’re saying.”

“And the gallery?”

I hated the pain in her voice.

He sighed and rubbed a hand across his face. Even his eyes turned sad. “I’m so very sorry. The building has burned to the ground. Would you be able to give us a statement?”

She looked at Luca and then me. “Will you come with me?”

“Of course, bella. Officer,” I called through the window, “where can we do this?”

“The owners of the house have said we can use their office.”

“Thank you.”

Luca reversed the car back down the road and onto the one leading to the main house. Angelina was silent, her thoughts closed off. But her pain hit us as if it was our pain. We came to a stop at the car park close to the house. Our mate stared directly ahead, her face white and her hands balled into fists on top of her handbag.

“My work. All my work gone. Destroyed in a matter of minutes. Why is this happening?”

Then she changed, like a light being switched on. Her distress turned to absolute, unmitigated anger. The rage was so strong that she shook. She clenched and unclenched her fists.

“Viktor.” She turned in her seat so she could see us both. “This was Viktor, wasn’t it? I’m going to kill him for this.”

I got out of the car and forced myself into her seat. We held her close as her anger rolled over us in waves. Trying to whisper words of comfort, or any sort of denial, weren’t going to work with her.

“Why don’t you go with Luca to the house and make your statement. I’ll check out the gallery. If it was Viktor, I’ll be able to detect his scent.”

It hurt so much to see tears shimmering in her eyes. Luca and I had experienced all her emotions about this act of devastation. Her works of art, which had been lovingly created, were all gone. This had to be Viktor. He was trying to get her to retaliate, which would leave her irrational and vulnerable to his attack. I kissed her forehead and left the car, rendering myself invisible.

By the time I reached the gallery, all that was left were smouldering ruins. Because of my acute sense of hearing, I was able to listen to a firefighter and police officer’s conversation.

“The owner has already said they won’t rebuild. It’ll cost way too much. Apparently, this was an art gallery. They weren’t looking forward to telling the artist about this.”

“I sent the artist up to the house just now so one of my colleagues could take a statement from her. Poor girl. She already looked distraught. I hope she can set up someplace else.”

Their conversation infuriated me even more. I walked around the perimeter and caught the scent of sulphur, along with Viktor’s personal stench. Boy, was he going to pay for this. He must have gone straight here after the altercation outside our home. Whatever Angelina thought, she was going to come and live with us on a permanent basis. Beginning today. There was no room for any kind of argument.

“Okay.”

I was taken aback by that one word from her. Our bond was so new I forgot she’d be able to hear any of our thoughts and conversations. It seemed we had a lot to learn with this new relationship. I’d expected a little more fight from her.

“How can I fight this when I know the outcome won’t be good for me? Cassie will be moving out soon anyway, so it would only have been a matter of time for me to leave too.”

“And you’re okay with this, Angelina?” I asked her softly.

“Yes. My life is with the two of you anyway. I do have one request, but I’ll wait until you get back here. Liz, the owner’s wife, has made tea in the drawing room. I said you’d be joining us. That you and Luca are family.”

Joy seeped through my every pore at her words. I could sense Luca’s happiness, too. “Is that how you see us already, as your family?”

“Yes. Hurry up. I need you both with me.”

I didn’t need to be told twice. This woman hadn’t told us she loved us with words, but her actions spoke loudly.

* * *