Antonietta went still. She had no idea how Byron defeated their state-of-the-art security system. He often simply appeared in a room. She knew he was there immediately, even though others didn’t seem aware of his presence. His entrance was always silent and instantaneous. She couldn’t remember him coming through the door unless he met them on the grounds.
How do you get in? I thought I knew what you were, but even then, you couldn’t just appear in a room.
Antonietta had the impression of laughter, yet there was no sound. And he didn’t answer her.
“That isn’t funny, Byron,” Tasha snapped, “and it isn’t an answer. Where do you live? What’s the address? How come no one knows where you live?” She tapped her foot impatiently as she glared at Diego. “Do you even have his address down? Could you find him if he did turn out to be part of a plot to get my cousin’s fortune?”
“Byron wouldn’t inherit if I died, Tasha,” Antonietta said. She stood up, knowing they would make way for her on the path winding through the flowers and shrubs. “You do. I doubt if Byron would gain from my death at all, or
Nonno’s
.”
Tasha shrieked. “What are you saying? What are you accusing me of doing? Did I drag you to the cliffs and throw you over? What are you saying?”
“I’m saying leave Byron alone. He risked his life to save
Nonno
and me. There is no need for you to pursue this any further.”
Few people argued with Antonietta when she was serious. Not even Tasha. Glowering, Tasha left the room, two bright spots of color on her cheeks and her eyes promising retaliation.
Byron reached for Antonietta’s hand. “Do you need anything else, Diego?” His voice was friendly, filled with camaraderie. “Please do tell us what you know.”
“It isn’t much, I’m afraid.” The captain responded instantly to Byron’s tone. “We don’t even have the body of the man you pulled off of Signorina Scarletti. It isn’t on the cliffs, although it is possible the sea has swallowed it.”
“I thought he hit his head as he fell. He did not get up, but I had to carry Don Giovanni to the palazzo, and I did not check him as I should have.” Byron spoke easily with a casual shrug of regret. “It all happened very quickly.”
“That is usually the way of it.” Diego sighed and stared after Tasha. “She is a beautiful woman.”
Byron felt Antonietta’s fingers tighten around his. “Yes, she is,” she responded. “Tasha loves children, and she is very distraught over little Margurite’s accident. Do you think that ties into this attack on us?”
“I am certain your grandfather was meant to be harmed,” Diego said.
“What of the security cameras? Is there nothing on tape to show how they got in and how they could move about so freely in the palazzo without triggering an alarm?” Byron asked quietly. He felt the small shiver that ran through Antonietta, and he drew her beneath the shelter of his broad shoulder.
“They had to have known the code to get into the house, and they knew where the security room was to shut down the system.”
There was a small silence. Antonietta did her best not to sag against Byron. Not to reveal her emotions when she wanted to cry out at the betrayal. Someone in the palazzo, someone had to have aided her assailants. She rested her head against Byron. Behind the dark glasses, she closed her eyes tightly against the pain piercing her heart. Her family. She loved them desperately with all their idiosyncrasies. The thought that any of her family could possibly be involved in a plot to murder Don Giovanni was inconceivable.
The one thing that I have learned in this long life is to never jump to conclusions.
The voice purred in her mind, stroked heat and hope deep inside where a great, gaping hole had been torn. Just like that. With a few simple words and a magic voice, Byron had managed to heal her.
“Signorina? I believe you must be very careful until we find who is behind this attempt on your life and that of Don Giovanni,” Diego warned.
Byron noted how often his gaze strayed to the hallway where Tasha paced just outside the solarium. He leaned closer to the man, looked him directly in his eyes to reinforce a powerful feeling of friendship and trust. “That is a good idea. Antonietta, I think being careful is very much in order. Are we finished here, Diego? Perhaps Tasha would be willing to provide you with a cup of tea while you talk to the kitchen staff about the disappearance of Enrico.” He pulled Antonietta beneath the protection of his shoulder.
“I’m certain she would,” Antonietta agreed. More than anything she wanted to be alone with Byron. She needed to be alone with him.
“I think that would be best,” Diego said immediately. “
Grazie
, for your time, Signorina Scarletti. I will be in touch.”
Antonietta allowed Byron to retain her hand, although normally she made it a point to walk on her own. It was forbidden to move furniture in the palazzo, and she knew where every plant, chair, and table was. Byron Justicano was under her protection. She wanted to make it very clear to her family that they were to accept his presence in her home and in her life.
“Please come this way, Captain. Tasha is just outside.” It was easy enough to identify the restless pacing. And she knew her cousin. Tasha wouldn’t have gone far when she was so interested in the policeman.
Byron opened the door and stepped back to allow Antonietta to proceed him. As she went past, he whispered in her ear, “I brought a surprise for you.”
Tasha swung around instantly as they emerged from the solarium, her large, dark eyes resting on Diego. “Do you have any idea who would do this?”
“Not yet, signora.”
“Tasha!” Her lips formed a perfect pout. “If you don’t call me Tasha, I’m afraid I won’t answer. Signora Scarletti-Fontaine is so formal.” Ignoring Byron, she stepped close to Antonietta and kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry, cousin. You know why,” she whispered. Her voice was low, but Byron’s acute hearing heard the words clearly.
Antonietta nodded. “Tasha, would you have time to take the captain to the kitchen and tell the staff to be most cooperative? Byron brought me a surprise, and I was hoping you wouldn’t mind showing Diego whatever else he needs to complete his report.”
Tasha’s entire face lit up. “Of course I’ll show him around, Antonietta. Diego, please do come with me.” She tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and gave him a smile designed to keep him focused on her.
“I would really like you to check on Margurite tonight,” Antonietta said. “She’ll be in the hospital overnight. I know she’s asleep, and they’re probably giving her painkillers, but if you can speed the healing process, I’d really like you to try.”
“I’ll go to her,” Byron agreed, “but at the moment her mother is with her, and it would be better if I went in when she was alone. I cannot heal her in front of her parents or even doctors. They would think I was the devil.”
“I suppose that’s true,” Antonietta conceded with a faint smile.
“I think you should take a look at my surprise. He’s been stuck out in the weather all this time waiting.”
“You brought someone?” For a moment her heart jumped. Did Byron have a son? She knew very little about him, although he visited often. Tasha had brought up a good point. No one really knew where Byron lived.
“In a manner of speaking,” Byron replied enigmatically. “The garden entrance… he’s waiting there.”
“You should have brought him inside,” Antonietta said.
“Well, I brought him for you and hope you feel the same way when you meet him.” Byron opened the door and signaled to the borzoi.
Celt walked in majestically. True to his word, Byron had protected him against the storm, so his coat was completely dry. He went straight up to Antonietta and, as if knowing she was blind, thrust his head beneath her hand. His gaze was already fixed on her devotedly. Byron smiled. “I knew you would like her immediately,” he said to Celt.