Starling (143 page)

years.
A long dark gondola with bouquets of roses mounted on the prow
bobbed in the water alongside the warped wooden dock. A banner
displaying both the Caravello and da Peraga crests flapped proudly
in the breeze.
It must be part of Luca’s surprise,
she thought. Perhaps
he was going to take her on a romantic trip around San Domenico.
Or someplace even farther away, like Mezzanotte Island. Cass
laughed aloud at the idea of Luca’s surprise being another lesson in
dagger handling from Rowan and his men.
But maybe there were other islands out past the Lido. Tiny private paradises where they could be completely alone. It would be
nice, escaping with Luca, no secret orders, no prison breaks—just
two people in love enjoying a bit of normalcy.
The gondolier, dressed in a brilliant scarlet-and-purple ensemble, beckoned to her with his long oar. “Your fiancé awaits you!” he
called. Cass wandered across the lawn and down to the edge of the
dock, stepping gingerly onto the mold-slicked wood, a thrill of excitement rushing through her.
The gondolier gestured at the felze. A black satin curtain hung
low over the front of the compartment, its edges embroidered with
hearts and moons.
Cass blushed. She imagined reclining in the tiny cabin with Luca,
their bodies twining together as the gondolier slowly rowed them to
parts unknown. It would be like the night they had spent together at
Palazzo Dolce. She only hoped he would take her somewhere far
enough away that Narissa wouldn’t be able to find them.
Smiling, she allowed the gondolier to help her over the edge of the
boat. “Trying to run away with me, are you?” she said teasingly. She
slipped behind the satin curtain.
And gasped.
Cristian rose up from the stuffed cushion. Cass barely registered
the bend in his nose and pair of scars across his cheek before he
grabbed her bodice with his trembling right hand and pulled her toward him. Fabric ripped. Her breath caught in her throat. His other
hand produced a dagger from his belt. “Scream, and you die,” he
hissed, jabbing the sharp edge toward her chest. The blade hovered
just inches away from spilling her blood.
Cass ducked low and back, out of the dagger’s deadly path, exactly as Rowan and his men had taught her. She twisted sideways,
one arm protecting her heart, the other lashing out. Her elbow
slammed into Cristian’s gut, and he stumbled backward.
Lunging past the satin curtain, she threw her body over the side
of the boat. “Run,” she yelled as the surprised gondolier looked on.
“He’s a killer.” Water drenched her shoes and the hem of her dress,
but Cass barely noticed.
A man she’d never seen before was disappearing around the side
of the villa. Undoubtedly, a landscaper or tailor or wedding expert
of some sort that Narissa had hired. “You there,” Cass screamed.
“Help me.” The man didn’t even turn around.
Cass swore loudly. She flew across the front lawn, one hand holding up her soaked skirts. . “Luca,” she shouted, desperately scanning
the property. Her fiancé was nowhere in sight. She cursed again. She
was reluctant to lead Cristian back inside the villa. He wouldn’t hesitate to stab his way through the staff to get to her.
“Stop,” Cristian shouted. Cass could barely hear his footsteps
against the soft earth. She imagined him gaining on her, his hands