For God’s sake. Luigi! he tried again.
“Fire! Fire!” someone shouted.
Right on cue, everyone in the building panicked and ran for the doors. Everybody except for the three men making a beeline for Cara and Fiorina.
Tony looked around for help. If the bodyguards returned quickly, he wouldn’t have to get involved. They could deal with the intruders while he quietly slipped away. No one would be the wiser, and he would remain a free man.
But Pietro and Luigi were nowhere in sight. If Tony didn’t take immediate action, who would?
It was just like that awful night a decade ago, when everything had gone wrong. And now, like then, he had a bitter choice to make. Was he ready to trade his freedom for a stranger’s sake?
Chapter Four
One minute, Cara was filled with joy and a sense of possibility. And not just from her chance reunion with Fiorina, as nice as that was.
No — she was still tingling from her encounter with the man in the corridor. The big, broad one with dark hair and mysterious eyes.
Her heart was still revving madly, her blood on fire. Why?
She’d walked a full lap of the ballroom after bumping into him, touching the honey-colored topaz her landlady had insisted she wear for the evening. The gem was a big, clunky thing that reflected light wildly — so much so that she kept it tucked into the front of her dress most of the time. But the stone rubbed against her skin, making her chest burn.
Then that man had come along and made her burn in a whole different way. Her heart was skipping all over the place, and her nerves tingled like live wires. Why such a reaction to that one particular man? Especially one who wore a full-face mask, keeping his secrets carefully guarded.
Then she’d run into Fiorina, and whoa. Surprise number two — a truly joyous one.
But that had only lasted an instant, because a moment later, Cara’s mind buzzed with alarms. Three men were closing in with murder in their eyes. Why, she had no clue. All she knew was she had to act — fast.
“Quick. Move over.” She hustled Fiorina into a corner.
“But the fire…” Fiorina protested.
The girl was a sweetheart, and when it came to books, her mind was sharp as a knife. But in practical situations, well…
Cara glanced around for a weapon, sure the fire was a ruse. But to what end? And dammit, what was Fiorina doing out in plain sight — in Venice, of all places?
Cara didn’t know all the secrets of the family she’d once worked for as an au pair, but she knew they had always kept their identities carefully hidden and avoided the public eye.
“But…” Fiorina mumbled.
The poor girl looked around, as innocent as a fawn, and Cara had to shove her into the corner in the end. Then Cara spun around, raising her fists in a ready stance. Whoever those men were, they were after Fiorina.
Yes, we are, the merciless eyes of the nearest intruder announced. And we shall have her. If you dare get in our way, you will pay the price.
Cara sniffed. The man was a wolf shifter, as was one of his friends. The third was a bear shifter, judging by his woodsy scent and lumbering gait. That was in addition to a fourth shifter — a sharp-eyed man partially hidden by the screen in a corner of the room, watching their every move.
It’s him! Our mystery man, her lioness cheered.
His eyes flashed a golden-brownish color behind his mask.
A lion shifter, like us, her inner lioness purred.
Cara fought off the inexplicable rush of…of…well, feelings his scent set off.
Everything from his powerful build to his sharp, honest eyes made him a perfect candidate to help her in whatever was going down. But what use was he, lurking in a corner like that?
“Hey,” another man grunted, trying to shuffle back into the room. “Stop!”
“Luigi!” Fiorina cried.
Apparently, he was one of Fiorina’s bodyguards. The family always had a few around. But the bear shifter pushed the door shut, locking away Luigi and the sight of panicked partygoers stampeding for the street.
“Fire!” guests shouted in panic. “Fire!”
Cara sniffed. There wasn’t a hint of fire or smoke in the air. Dammit, why were Fiorina’s bodyguards so far away?
Unfortunately, we have enemies, Fiorina’s mother had confided eight years earlier, when Cara had first been hired. Those who killed my husband would like to see me and the children disappear too. So, that is what we have done — disappeared — but on our own terms, with new identities and a new home. If I could tell you more, I would. All I can say is, you must be discreet — and vigilant. Our lives depend on it.
Cara had been prepared for that. After all, the family friend who’d recommended her for the job had hinted it wouldn’t be an ordinary au pair position — especially since a black belt was her primary qualification.
Luckily, nothing had happened during Cara’s year with the family. Which wasn’t that surprising, given their life in a secluded villa outside Bibione, many miles down the coast. Practically a world apart from their native Venice. What were they doing back in the city now?
I beg you to never, ever let us down, Fiorina’s mother had once said.
Cara clenched her jaw. She wouldn’t. Not then, not now.
Hands appeared at the window, pushing open the curtains. Fiorina screamed, adding to the mayhem. Cara kicked, making the person at the window yelp and back away. Then she picked up the piano stool, ready to fight. She would shift to lion form if she had no other choice, but she didn’t want to risk being spotted by any humans. It was the same all over the world — shapeshifters had to hide their special abilities at all costs.
“What do you want?” Fiorina cried as the men closed in on her.
The nearest man — a wolf shifter — laughed. “We want you.”
Then he lunged, as did his friend, both heading for Fiorina as if Cara didn’t exist.
And, boy. Cara had already been mad. Now, she was furious. Did they think she wouldn’t put up a fight?
She smashed the piano stool into the nearest man’s ribs. When he stumbled, Cara let her foot fly. It connected with a satisfying crack — his jaw, not her foot — and he dropped to his knees.
But by then, the second man had started dragging Fiorina toward the window.
“Now, now, darling. I don’t want to hurt you…”
Cara gave the piano a mighty push. With an earsplitting screech, the wheels rolled, and it blocked his way. Then a growl sounded behind her, and she spun.
The good news? Mystery Man had finally decided to join the fight — on her side, thank goodness.
The bad news? He rammed into the bear shifter, setting off a ferocious brawl. Fists flew, grunts sounded, and although both remained in human form, they let out just enough of their claws and fangs to inflict serious damage.
Cara watched in a mixture of awe and fear, then hurried toward Fiorina.
“Help!” the girl cried as the wolf shifter dragged her along.
Twist free, Cara wanted to shout. Go limp. Make it hard for him. For goodness’ sake. Didn’t Fiorina remember any of the self-defense moves Cara had taught her?
Apparently not. All she did was struggle meekly. Not a surprise, considering the girl didn’t have an aggressive bone in her body.
Cara rushed over, but the man she’d knocked aside wobbled back to his feet, blocking her way. His eyes glowed with pure hate.