Sensual Danger (Venice Vampyr #4)

“I haven’t heard anything about Marcello having found the cipher yet.” Raphael gave a hopeful smile. “But he’s a smart man. I’m sure he’ll find something.”


Nico nodded. It had been very fortunate that Bianca, Lorenzo’s wife, had found a list with the names of the Guardians in her father’s house. It appeared that her late father had been one of them and prepared the list possibly in an attempt to use it to make a fortune. And for certain, any of his fellow vampires would have paid a pretty penny for it. However, it had turned out that the names were written in some sort of code that Nico and his friends hadn’t been able to decipher yet.

“Good. I hope so. I’d hate for us to be sitting ducks, not knowing who our enemies are.”

Dante let out a deep breath. “Patience, patience. But in the meantime, we have to continue what we’ve started. Enrico just bought the house at the end of the alley. Andrea is in the middle of negotiations for the house between ours and Lorenzo’s, and Carlo thinks he has a lead on another one. We’re making progress.”

Nico picked up the gaze his friend sent him and read the question in it. Could he be relied upon to do the right thing and take over Lombardi’s house despite the burden it came with? Nico felt perspiration build on his neck and felt the urge to pat himself dry but resisted it. He didn’t want to admit to his friends that the entire situation caused him stress. Instead he looked away and changed the subject.

“Maybe I should call on Marcello and see if he needs help. Four eyes see more than two.”

“Suit yourself,” Dante said, sounding slightly annoyed. “But your time would be better spent returning to your negotiations with Signore Lombardi. The man is clearly interested in ridding himself of the house and his daughter in one transaction, and there are plenty of men around who might find the offer tempting.”

“Tempting?” Nico snorted. “Marrying an old spinster whose face is so disagreeable no man in his right mind would want to be in her presence at daylight? I don’t see how that can be tempting.”

“Tempting or not, what’s your objection? You prefer the night anyway. Just blow out the candles.” Dante made it sound easier than it was.

“Just imagine she is somebody else when you fuck her,” Raphael advised. “You probably do that anyway when you visit your whores. So what’s the difference?”

Nico shrugged. Was there a difference? In the dark, weren’t all women the same? Well, maybe not entirely. They all tasted and smelled different. And maybe, just maybe Lombardi’s daughter had an agreeable smell to her. Then fucking her in the dark wouldn’t be as disagreeable after all.

Nico rose from his seat. “I’d better get going. There’s much to be done.” He walked to the door, then glanced back over his shoulder. “I trust you’ll be at my wedding?” When he saw both brothers’ jaws drop in surprise, he couldn’t suppress his grin.

“You already decided?” Dante asked.

“Of course. The house is worth it. The wedding is scheduled for Friday night. You’ll attend with Viola and Isabella?”

“That’s two days from now.”

“No need in wasting time. The quicker I get the ceremony behind me, the faster I can send her to the country.”

And that was exactly what he would do. He’d marry the ugly spinster on Friday night, consummate the marriage post haste and send her on her way to his estate by Monday. Despite his plan, Nico felt as if he’d made a decision which would change his life forever. But he wouldn’t allow it. Once his wife was safely tucked away in the country, he’d resume his bachelor life, fucking whatever woman he wanted and feeding from the sweetest blood available. Nothing would change. Nothing!





3


Nico had insisted on an evening wedding, and Lombardi hadn’t objected. The parlor of the home that would officially become his after the ceremony had been decorated with flowers. Furniture had been removed to make space for the wedding party. Nico had invited only a few of his friends, mostly so as not to raise any suspicion with Signore Lombardi. A man without friends was not to be trusted.

In addition to the brothers Dante and Raphael and their wives Viola and Isabella, Lorenzo had come with his wife Bianca. Both Marcello and Carlo couldn’t be dissuaded to stay away once they’d heard of his impending nuptials. The two bachelors were clearly here to gloat.

Nico nervously shifted from one foot to the other when he finally heard the bride’s footsteps on the stairs as she descended from the upper floor. He cast a look through the open door and saw her walking on her father’s arm. Her gown was of cream silk, making her appear as if she floated on a cloud.