Leaves rustled, a twig snapped. The soft murmur of voices in the distance alerted Byron and Antonietta to the others walking in the maze. They could also hear Don Giovanni singing softly under his breath as he puttered around the courtyard, checking his beloved flowers.
The voices were hushed but angry. “That’s Christopher Demonesini,” Antonietta said. She shoved the dark glasses onto her nose, so upset she didn’t ask where Byron got them. “How dare that man show his face in our home? Franco should have thrown him out immediately.”
Byron put a restraining hand on her arm. “Let me give you the rules of invisibility, Warrior Princess. You do not get to go wielding your broadsword and driving the enemy from your property. You are invisible. You gather information, and the most important of all things is not to react to what you hear. No reaction. That is the key.” He pulled her closer to him as the footsteps continued to approach and the voices became louder.
Wrapped in Byron’s restraining arms, Antonietta did her best to simply listen when every instinct she possessed told her to confront Christopher.
“I don’t care who you are or what power your family has, Demonesini. You can fill the Scarletti palazzo with a million roses. It won’t make up for what you did.” Diego’s voice was a whip of contempt.
“This is none of your business,” Christopher contradicted. “Natasha is my fiancee, and what happens is between us.”
“Not anymore. She broke the engagement, and she asked you very politely to stay away from her. Your calls and flowers aren’t wanted.”
“I don’t think you know who you’re talking to. I can have you dismissed from your job. You might remember that the next time you decide to stick your nose in my business. Get the hell away from me and stay away from Natasha.” Christopher laughed. “You probably think she’ll look at you next, but a woman like Natasha Scarletti would never stoop so low.”
“I don’t think you quite understand what I’m saying to you.” Diego stopped walking and turned toward Christopher only feet from where Antonietta and Byron were standing. Antonietta could easily see the images in Byron’s mind. Diego’s hand shot out and caught Christopher by the throat. “Your money doesn’t impress me. You can threaten me with dismissal from my job, but it won’t stop me. Leave her alone.” His fingers threatened to crush Demonesini’s larynx. “She doesn’t want to see you again. She doesn’t want to hear your voice. Stay away from her, because if you don’t, you’ll be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life. Have I made myself perfectly clear?”
Diego let go of Christopher, who staggered and coughed, massaging his throat. The captain walked away, disappearing behind the tall hedges.
Can you read his mind? I thought you did not approve of reading minds. Maybe he’s the jaguar. He’s always been a smug little brat, even when we were kids. He hasn’t improved with age. I should have known he was capable of beating a woman. His father certainly is.
He has the same barrier all of you have, so the Jaguar genetics run deep in him. Byron materialized in front of Christopher Demonesini, waving his hand for silence and staring deep into the man’s eyes. Antonietta, merged so deeply with Byron, received the flow of information as Byron extracted it.
Christopher Demonesini lived with a monster. His father was ruthless with his fists and ruled his household as a dictator. There was no memory of a jaguar or killing people, but his father had ordered him to marry Natasha Scarletti-Fontaine. It seemed to be part of a plan for a merger of the two shipping businesses. Christopher was afraid of his father and would go to any lengths to prove himself to the man.
Byron moved some distance away, veiling Christopher’s sight and removing all traces of his memory of sharing his thoughts. Christopher shook his head repeatedly, cursed as he rubbed his throat, and hurried back through the maze, retracing his steps.
Antonietta leaned against Byron. “How awful to grow up like that. I’m ashamed of myself for disliking him so intensely. He had little chance to be anything but like his father.”
“Tasha is not like her father. We all have choices, Antonietta. At some point we have to take responsibility for our own lives. Christopher is capable of becoming a monster every bit as ugly as his father. Diego will have to watch himself in his career. Christopher will never forget what happened here today. Still, as much as I wish to have found it, I could see no trace of the jaguar in him, although the genetics are clearly present as they are in you. How strong, I do not know. We cannot rule him out as the animal, but I detected no conspiracy for murder or even for theft.”
“His father is a horrible man. I can remember him coming to visit when I was a teenager. Our families travel in the same social circles, so he was often at parties and charity events. He always touched me. Brushing his hands accidentally against my breasts. Standing behind me and pushing against me, rubbing his body against mine. He made me ill. If I said anything, he always acted as if I were a child, misinterpreting what happened. Accidents, you know, and I was blind and couldn’t see what happened. Then he actually tried to court me. I had such an aversion to him, I wouldn’t even stay in the same room alone with him. I made poor Tasha stay right by my side every second. Tasha never let me down. Not once. The don would do his best to get her out of the room, but she stuck like glue.” A shudder ran through her body. “I always know when he comes in a room. Every hair on my body stands up, and I get that strange itching under my skin I always associate with the jaguar wanting to come out.”
Byron smiled. She had the instant impression of teeth bared. “I look forward to meeting Christopher’s father. He should meet a real monster and learn the rules of the jungle.”
Antonietta wrapped her arms around Byron’s neck. “I don’t want you to do anything at all. I have you, and his family can’t hurt us. They’re desperate for a way to save their business, but it won’t be through a Scarletti.”
His kiss was tender, loving. “I want to speak to your grandfather and arrange our wedding immediately.”
“He’ll ask you to sign a prenuptial agreement.”
“I am a gem-caller, Antonietta. I find rare gems. I do not need nor want the Scarletti fortune. You do not need it either. What I have is yours. I will be more than happy to sign whatever agreement your grandfather deems necessary, as long as he has it drawn up immediately.” He took her hand as they made their way through the twists and turns of the maze.
In the courtyard, Josef stood before an easel gazing up at the battlements. He wore his beret at a jaunty angle and a bright kerchief tied around his neck. Splashes of paint dotted his face and were smeared on his smocklike shirt. He is clearly in his painter period. Byron was sarcastic. He seems to go through stages like no other child in history.
Antonietta studied the painting.
Actually, he’s not bad. He has talent. Of course he has talent. Eleanor raised him. She would make certain he had every opportunity to develop whatever gift he had. He is just such a… Boy?
Antonietta laughed softly in Byron’s mind.
Isn’t he supposed to be one?
Josef put down his paintbrush and went over to the side of the palazzo, studying the smooth walls, the wealth of sculptures and stained glass. For a moment his form shimmered, wavered, then he was crouched on the side of the palazzo, clinging with hands and feet, a human spider dressed in black with a webbed mask over his face.
What in the world is he doing?
Byron scanned his nephew’s mind and sighed loudly. Vincente and Margurite shared an American comic book with him. He is Spiderman, racing up the side of the building to rescue the maiden in distress.