by Thorne, Elle
“Can you help?”
Giovanni looked toward one of the doors. “Bring the witch.”
Moments later, a beautiful woman walked in the door. With emerald eyes and hair so red it was on fire, her gaze threw green daggers at Giovanni.
“Why do you disturb me?” She stood before them, clad in jeans and a peasant top in pristine white.
“Esmerelda. Sit please. It seems your services are needed.”
Esmerelda released a laugh laced with sarcasm, and took a seat next to Tito. She addressed Giovanni. “I’m your prisoner, yet you’re talking as if I’m your guest.”
Ana leaned forward, pushing her plate aside. “Please. It’s very important. It’s something you’re already familiar with.”
“That’s a good way to pique my curiosity.” The witch raised a red eyebrow, creases forming on ivory skin.
Ana glanced at Giovanni. How she wished she didn’t have to talk in front of him and his brothers.
Giovanni nodded, as if urging her on—or telling her he wasn’t going anywhere.
“You’ve met Ella Carrera.”
Esmerelda cocked her head. “Perhaps.”
“No. I know it’s so. You see, her son told me about the letter she left for him.”
“The lion shifter,” Esmerelda acknowledged with a slight smile. “I did his mother a… favor.”
“Yes!” Ana hoped that they were able to make a connection. “And she passed away.”
“Yes, I hear of things, even though I’ve moved to this godforsaken forest and away from my beloved Rome.” She glared at Federico across the table. “How is that lion shifter doing? I suspect now he realizes what he is?”
Ana nodded. “He knows. But he is in a predicament. And your sister said you were the only one who could help.”
“Which sister?”
“Desideria.”
Esmerelda’s eyes narrowed. “I hope you’re not hoping a friendship with her will garner favor with me.”
“No. No. I was hoping since you’re the only witch powerful enough—”
“I am,” Esmerelda affirmed.
Not very modest, though. Ana bit her tongue and didn’t let her opinion be known. “Yes, since you are, we were hoping you could overturn Iniga’s spell. She used a Bitterblood Vial.” Ana still wasn’t sure what that vial was about, but clearly it was magical. Ana recounted Tino’s dilemma, how he remained trapped behind the walls.
Esmerelda rubbed her temples. “Iniga isn’t around anymore.”
“Yes, that’s what I heard.” Ana was thankful, ever so thankful that Giovanni, his brothers, and Isabel were quiet, not antagonizing, not interfering.
“Lucky for you, because if she knew you wanted one of her spells countered, you’d find yourself in an unpleasant predicament.”
“Will you help?”
“I have to go there. I can’t do that from here.” Esmerelda glanced at Giovanni.
“Absolutely not.”
“She’d be on the way to another continent before we could blink,” Tito added.
Federico remained silent.
A coldness rushed through Ana. They couldn’t do this. They couldn’t keep Tino a prisoner. “No. I refuse to believe there isn’t something that can be worked out.”
“Do you have a way to guarantee me that after Esmerelda gives you what you want, that you will in turn bring her back and not grant her freedom out of gratitude.”
Ana contemplated the matter. Truth was, she probably would let Esmerelda go. She was Desideria’s sister and Ana would be appreciative.
Isabel said, “You could leave me behind as collateral. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“No!” Ana wouldn’t agree to that.
Giovanni glanced at Isabel, with laughter in his voice, he said, “What makes you think I want the pleasure of your company?”
Isabel glared at him. “It’s not about you.”
“Think of the dangers involved,” Ana cajoled her.
“Wait just a moment here.” Giovanni tapped the table for emphasis. “Are you implying we couldn’t protect your sister?”
Not from the looks you’re giving her.
“Pffft.” Isabel spurted. “I can protect myself.”
“Stop.” Ana raised a hand. “I’m not leaving my sister behind.”
“And more importantly, what incentive do I have now to help?” Esmerelda sat back in the leather and wood antique chair.
Ana looked at her sister, then at Giovanni. She didn’t even have any money to offer Esmerelda as payment
“Why are you looking at me?” Giovanni raised his brows at Ana.
“Hoping to appeal to your sense of decency.”
Isabel burst into mirthful laughter. “Decency? Him?”
Very slowly, and in a way that would have made Ana most nervous, Giovanni turned his head until his focus was fully on Isabel. “I think I will take you up on that offer. Let your sister be the collateral you leave behind. She needs a few lessons. Maybe even a spanking.” His eyes glittered dangerously.
“Ha,” Isabel challenged. “I’d like to see you try.”
Giovanni didn’t rise to her bait. He turned back to Ana. “Now, we need to give the witch incentive.”
“Thank you.” Ana wanted to hug him. And would have. If that formidable shifter didn’t scare the daylights out of her.
Giovanni turned to Esmerelda. “Well?”
“What can you do for me?” Esmerelda wasn’t going to make it easy for him, it seemed.
“I can testify on your behalf with the Shifter Council. Perhaps get your charges to go away.”
Esmerelda contemplated the matter. “I’m hungry.”
Giovanni called out to the hallway. “A plate for the wi—for Esmerelda.”
Chapter Seventeen
The next morning, after a healthy dose of reluctance on Ana’s part, and many assertions from Isabel that she would be fine, Ana relented and let her sister have her way. She left her in Giovanni Tiero’s hands with the promise that she’d “be back in a day.”
I hope.
It was the only way, Ana realized. And the Tieros didn’t have a bad reputation. And they had held offices in the Shifter Council at one time or another.
“I hold the stone, Esmerelda.” These were Giovanni’s final words to the witch before he closed the vehicle door behind her.
And so it was, Ana and Esmerelda, accompanied by Federico and a dozen of Giovanni’s shifters, in two large vehicles bound for Rome.
Giovanni’s shifters were part of his security team. Dressed in suits, they were burly and all business.
The time back to Rome didn’t take long because they didn’t have to hike through the woods the way Ana and Isabel had. The Tieros had a driveway that led straight to the road.
Wish I’d known about this.
It would have saved her a lot of time.
Sitting alone in the middle seat with Esmerelda, Ana took a moment to visit with her. She knew their talk wouldn’t be private. Shifter hearing was too good for that, but she still was curious.
“What happened with you and Desideria?”
“Nothing happened. How do you know her?” Esmerelda turned from looking out the window.
“She was our teacher a few years ago.”
“So that’s the punishment they gave her. Teaching at a shifter school? I never knew.”
“Punishment?” Ana was confused.
“Yes. She had a falling out with a superior witch. The Congress of Witches met. Then she was gone. We were never close. How is she?”
“She’s fine. What did Giovanni mean when he mentioned having a stone?”
One of the shifters in the back laughed. “The stone that keeps her tethered.”
Esmerelda turned to give him a dirty look.
He sat back in his seat.
Whatever it was, there was no doubt he ultimately respected Esmerelda’s powers.
Ana chewed on her lip. “So, Elle Carrera hired you to keep Tino’
s lion hidden.”
“You already know that.” Esmerelda’s tone was exasperated.
“Yes, sorry. What can you tell me about that?”
“Nothing. Confidentiality is valued in my business.”
“Why are you helping me—us?”
“You’re full of questions, aren’t you?” Her tone was standoffish, but her expression wasn’t unapproachable. Not totally, anyway. “Giovanni Tiero speaking on my behalf could keep me from unpleasantness.”
“Why would you have to deal with unpleasantness?”
In front of her, Federico began to cough. After a long coughing spell, he issued an apology.
Ana glanced at Esmerelda, but there’d be no answer coming from her. Her head was against the window and her eyes closed.
So much for that.
They were in Ana’s neighborhood. The driver followed her directions and took them to their home.
Bruno’s vehicle was still gone.
She breathed a sigh of relief, ran out of the vehicle, and up the stairs to the front door, burst through it, to the amazement of the housekeeper, then across the villa.
First things, first.
Mama.
In her bedroom, her mother was down for her afternoon nap.
Ana leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. Her mother was fine.
She took the housekeeper’s hand and led her to Mama’s room. “Please stay with Mama until I come back. I have urgent and private business to take care of in my room. Make sure Mama doesn’t go wandering if she wakes up.” Seeing Giovanni’s security team here would cause Mama to worry. Ana couldn’t have that.
She ran back to the vehicles, where all were stepping out of the doors.
“Please.” She panted, struggling for breath. “Give me a moment to prepare him. He has no idea I’m doing this.”
“We will wait outside for you,” Federico said.
Ana ran inside, to her sitting area, closing the door behind her quickly, she shifted immediately.
Still breathless, her heart beating like a sparrow’s, chased by a hunting cat, she shifted into her tigress.
“Cristiano.” She felt him join her sync, his presence a warm sensation that flooded her body.
“I’m here.” His tone was stern. “Where have you been? Do you know the worry I’ve had? I feared that you’d run into Bruno somewhere and been taken… and…” He heaved a sigh of relief. “I feared the worst had happened. And here I am, unable to protect or help you.”
“That will no longer be the case. Not after today.” Her tigress approached the wall, she leaned against it, pressing against the wall the way a housecat seeking affection would push on a leg.
“What do you mean?”
She heard him draw in a breath and knew he was grasping her scent the way she wished she could take his in, deep in her lungs. Damn the witch that did this to him. Damn her. It would soon be undone, though. It would.
“I have good news.”
“Do tell? And where is Isabel? Don’t tell me the good news is that Isabel found someone.”
Ana laughed. “Quite the opposite. She made an enemy, I think. Though their dynamics are strange. Then again, my sister is different.”
“So your news?” he prompted.
“I’ve found someone to lift the spell that binds you here.”
“Really?”
Her heart ached at the excitement in his tone, because she knew that it would mean the end of their friendship. There was no way Bruno would allow her to have a man for a friend. And her feelings for Tino—those were more than friendship.
“Yes, really.”
“Do I have the option to refuse this?”
“Why would you?”
“Because it would mean losing you.”
She sighed, her heart swelling with joy and deflating with sadness, both at the same time. “You shouldn’t do that. This is your chance. Who knows when there will be another.”
“How did you make this happen, miracle maker?”
“It’s a long story, involves a witch. Can it wait until after? She’s here. Outside. Waiting.”
“You mean it will happen now? She’s really here?” Excitement was back in his voice.
“She is.” She shifted into her human form, then said. “And I’ll be right back with her.” She didn’t want him to change his mind or argue with her. And if she was in her human form, he could hear her, but she couldn’t hear him.
Unless he shook the walls.
Please don’t shake the walls, she pleaded silently as she slipped out the door and ran outside and down the stairs toward the waiting Esmerelda and shifters.
“Let’s go. We’re ready.” She grabbed Esmerelda’s arm and tugged.
“You are more than friends. That much is clear,” Esmerelda mumbled
“Shifter hearing. I heard that,” Ana reminded her.
“I know.”
They all went inside. Ana led them to her sitting room, confident that Tino would still be there.
“Tino, this is Esmerelda. She will be helping us.”
Esmerelda looked at Federico and the other shifters. “I’d like privacy.”
“Can I stay?” Ana pleaded.
“You will have to stay out of the way.”
“I will. I’ll be right here by the window.” Ana closed the door behind the departing shifters and detoured toward the chair.
“If you don’t mind, I don’t like performing in front of an audience.
Seriously? “I understand.” Anything to get Esmerelda going. Anything.
Ana kept her eyes glued on the window, too keyed up to enjoy the view of the backyard, with the topiaries and statues that their landscaper had put in place. “Tell me when I can turn around.”
“I will. Silence, please.” Esmerelda’s tone was terse.
Ana heard a commotion. Men shouting. It seemed that they were near the front door. She was itching to go check, to make sure everything was okay, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave the room.
She kept her eyes glued to the greenery outside, not even trying to look in the reflection. She couldn’t afford to anger Esmerelda and have her back out of this arrangement.
She heard a cracking sound and almost turned.
Almost.
She fought the urge to turn by digging her nails into her palms.
“Ana?” Her name sounded broken up, as if coming from a dried husk of a throat. Of course, he hadn’t spoken out loud since he’d been put in there. But…
Oh my god. His voice. It sounds almost the same as it had in sync.
She whirled around.
There he stood. Everything she’d ever thought a man should look like and everything a lover could be. And her dear friend.
She feasted on his image, drinking him in like a woman who’d been wandering in a desert for a lifetime.
“Cristiano.”
He looked like she’d imagined he’d look. Well, if you want to consider that the only thing she’d imagined was a vague sexy image.
Tino had dark brown hair, buzzed close to his scalp. He had been coming to meet—and hopefully, impress—his father. Tall frame, broad shoulders, wide chest, his jawline was square, his eyes dark, the color of wet espresso grounds.
She held her breath at the sheer beauty of the man. He looked as if he had no idea how positively sexy he was; she could tell just from looking at him.
Chapter Eighteen
Cristiano breathed deeply. He knew what she looked like. He’d always known. But this, he savored her scent, relishing an aroma that was uniquely her.
And she belongs to another man. Even if he’s not much of a man.
He glanced at the red-haired witch. “Thank you, Esmerelda.” He barely managed the phrase.
It looked like he’d have to get used to talking again.
He took a step away from the wall, and stumbled, seeking stability from the dresser next to the wall. He steadied himself.
“It’s really true. I’m fre
e. After all this time. I’m free.”
Ana was frozen in place, staring at him.
How he wanted to run to her, to hold her to his body, to feel her against him.
There was a knock at the door, interrupting his thoughts.
Probably a good thing, since she belongs to Bruno.
“Everything okay in there?” Federico’s voice.
Esmerelda opened the door. “Everything is fine. My part is done.”
Federico studied Tino. “Federico Tiero.” He approached Tino and held out his hand.
“Cristiano…” Tino was stumped. He was a shifter’s son. He should use his father’s name. “Cristiano Carrera Ricoletti.”
Federico nodded. “I’ve met your father.”
I wish I could say the same. Tino merely acknowledged the proclamation with a nod.
Esmerelda poked her head out the door. “I heard a commotion.”
“Yes. That.” Federico rubbed his jaw. “We had a problem. I’m not sure… well…” More jaw rubbing.
Tino watched Ana watching Federico.
“What is it?” she asked.
“We were attacked. Unexpectedly. And we had to defend ourselves.”
Ana’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
“A bull shifter. Bruno Vergo. He attacked us. We tried to talk to him. There was no reasoning with that shifter.” A long exhale, then, “He’s dead.”
Tino wished he could have felt bad for what he was hearing. He couldn’t. He’d seen too much of Bruno Vergo. He knew what he was about.
He reached out to Ana. She crumpled into his arms.
“I know I should feel grief—”
“Hush, cara mia. Hush.”
“You should not,” Esmerelda said. “He did not have a reputation as a good man.”
With a glance at Ana, Federico added, “He was your mate?”
“By my father’s arrangement.”
Another commotion and voices came from the other side of the hallway, toward the back of the villa.
Chapter Nineteen
“That’s my mother’s voice.” Ana pulled herself from Tino’s arms and ran out the door, with Tino closely on her heels.
