Carpathian 00 - The Scarletti Curse

unlike him."
    "He usually comes by boat," Antonello said. "Have you checked the cove?"
    Nicoletta stiffened, her heart slamming in her chest. She knew. She knew the truth immediately, almost as if Giovanni had shared the information with their strange mind link. Their cousin was dead, one of the men Giovanni had slain on the beach. Her face paled, and her mouth went dry. She didn't dare look at him, but his hand clamping hers over his heart was enough. He knew she shared his knowledge.
    His own cousin. A man he had grown up with, a man he called famiglia. She was suddenly terrified.

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    More than ever she wanted to go home, back to the simplicity of the villaggio. No hint of conspiracy lurked there; the people were hardworking and God-fearing. She could count on their stability. Here, in this place of madness, in the Palazzo della Morte, the sands were always shifting, and she could call no one friend.
    "When did you last hear from him?" Giovanni asked his youngest brother.
    Vincente shrugged. "He sent word some weeks ago that he would be here for the hunt. I think we should send inquiries to his people. Perhaps he has come overland and has stopped at some inn." He grinned. "Damian has an eye for the ladies."
    "I will send out runners," Giovanni said, his hand tight around Nicoletta's, warning her to remain silent.
    "He must attend the wedding."
    Nicoletta stared steadfastly at her bare toes. She knew the don could feel the way her body was trembling beside his, the way her pulse beat so frantically beneath the pad of his thumb. One hand went to the nape of her neck in a slow massage. To soothe her? Or to warn her? She stayed very still as she listened to the three brothers talking, their voices oddly alike, while their characters were so different.
    "Nicoletta!" Ketsia and Sophie rushed at her, unaware of the dangerous undercurrents, their faces joyful and smeared with white cream. "We brought a treat for you!" The children were hand in hand as they approached the adults.
    Nicoletta and Maria Pia smiled a welcome at them as they stopped, suddenly uncertain under the attention of the three men. Nicoletta held out her free arm to them in encouragement, and both girls immediately hastened into her embrace. She was as grateful for their presence as they were for hers.
    "Sophie, who is your little friend?" Vincente asked his daughter.
    Sophie moved closer to Nicoletta, a fine shiver running through her. "Ketsia," she answered, almost painfully shy again. Nicoletta noticed that Giovanni dropped his free hand onto the child's head, a small gesture of affection and encouragement.
    Vincente bowed low and pretended to kiss Ketsia's fingers.
    "Have you come unescorted? That was very brave of you." Ketsia erupted into nervous giggling.
    "Cristano came, too," she explained without guile. "He wanted to see Nicoletta, too. Nicoletta is my best friend."
    "Well, then, you must come and visit often," Vincente encouraged. He looked around. "Where, then, is this Cristano?" He smiled at Ketsia. "Your escort should not be so lacking in manners as to leave you alone for long. I fear if he does not correct his errant behavior, another man will swoop you up."
    She giggled again, this time blushing, already, at her young age, completely susceptible to the Scarletti charm.
    Sophie clutched Nicoletta's leg so hard, her fingers actually bit into flesh through the skirt. The child was shaking.
    Instinctively, Nicoletta circled Sophie's shoulders and hugged her. "Thank you so much for entertaining Ketsia for me. Don Scarletti, Sophie has been so good to me, I think she should be in the wedding party Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    along with Ketsia. I will need someone to ensure I remember every thing."
    Giovanni smiled at the little girls. "Such as her shoes. She seems to forget them all the time. I would be most grateful to you, Sophie."
    Ketsia nodded vigorously. "She does, Sophie. You must help Nicoletta remember her shoes while she is here."
    "Nicoletta lives here now, Ketsia," Giovanni reminded her gently. "Was it your job before to help Nicoletta remember?"
    Ketsia nodded importantly. "She has so much to do. People from all over seek out Nicoletta because—" She broke off, looking horrified, clapping a hand over her mouth and looking at Maria Pia as if expecting a sharp reprimand. At once tears of remorse swam in her