Stonebound: Shifters Forever Worlds (Skeleton Key) (7 page)

BOOK: Stonebound: Shifters Forever Worlds (Skeleton Key)
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Chapter 17

T
he next morning
, after a healthy dose of reluctance on Ana’s part, and many assertions from Isabel that she would be fine, Ana relented and let her sister have her way. She left her in Giovanni Tiero’s hands with the promise that she’d “be back in a day.”

I hope.

It was the only way, Ana realized. And the Tiero didn’t have a bad reputation. And they had held offices in the Shifter Council at one time and another.

“I hold the stone, Esmerelda.” These were Giovanni’s final words to Esmerelda before he closed the vehicle door behind her.

And so it was, Ana and Esmerelda, accompanied by Federico and a dozen of Giovanni’s shifters, were in two large vehicles and bound for Rome.

Giovanni’s shifters were part of his security team. Dressed in suits, they were burly and all business.

The time back to Rome didn’t take long because they didn’t have to hike through the woods the way Ana and Isabel had. The Tieros had a driveway that led straight to the road.

Wish I’d known about this.

It would have saved her a lot of time.

Sitting alone in the middle seat with Esmerelda, Ana took a moment to visit with her. She knew their talk wouldn’t be private. Shifter hearing was too good for that, but she still was curious.

“What happened with you and Desideria?”

“Nothing happened. How do you know her?” Esmerelda turned from looking out the window.

“She was our teacher a few years ago.”

“So that’s the punishment they gave her. Teaching at a shifter school? I never knew.”

“Punishment?” Ana was confused.

“Yes. She had a falling out with a superior witch. The Congress of Witches met. Then she was gone. We were never close. How is she?”

“She’s fine. What did Giovanni mean when he mentioned having a stone?”

One of the shifters in the back laughed. “The stone that keeps her tethered.”

Esmerelda turned to give him a dirty look.

He sat back in his seat.

Whatever it was, there was no doubt he ultimately respected Esmerelda’s powers.

Ana chewed on her lip. “So, Elle Carrera hired you to keep Tino’s lion hidden.”

“You already know that.” Esmerelda’s tone was exasperated.

“Yes, sorry. What can you tell me about that?”

“Nothing. Confidentiality is valued in my business.”

“Why are you helping me—us?”

“You’re full of questions aren’t you?” Her tone was standoffish, but her expression wasn’t unapproachable. Not totally, anyway. “Giovanni Tiero speaking on my behalf could keep me from unpleasantness.”

“Why would you have to deal with unpleasantness?”

In front of her, Federico began to cough. After a long coughing spell, he issued an apology.

Ana glanced at Esmerelda, but there’d be no answer coming from her. Her head was against the window and her eyes closed.

So much for that.

They were Ana’s her neighborhood. The driver followed her directions and took them to their home.

Bruno’s vehicle was still gone.

She breathed a sigh of relief, ran out of the vehicle, and up the stairs to the front door, burst through it, to the amazement of the housekeeper, then across the villa.

First things, first.

Mama.

In her bedroom, her mother was down for her afternoon nap.

Ana leaned against the wall, breathing heavy. Her mother was fine.

She took the housekeeper’s hand and led her to Mama’s room. “Please stay with Mama until I come back. I have urgent and private business to take care of in my room. Make sure Mama doesn’t go wandering if she wakes up.” Seeing Giovanni’s security team here would cause Mama to worry. Ana couldn’t have that.

She ran back to the vehicles, where all were stepping out of the doors.

“Please.” She panted, struggling for breath. “Give me a moment to prepare him. He has no idea I’m doing this.”

“We will wait outside for you,” Federico said.

Ana ran inside, to her sitting area, closing the door behind her quickly, she shifted immediately.

Still breathless, her heart beating like a sparrow’s chased by a hunting cat, she shifted into her tigress.

“Cristiano.”
She felt him join her sync, his presence a warm sensation that flooded her body.

“I’m here.”
His tone was stern.
“Where have you been? Do you know the worry I’ve had? I feared that you’d run into Bruno somewhere and been taken… and…”
He heaved a sigh of relief.
“I feared the worst had happened. And here I am, unable to protect or help you.”

“That will no longer be the case. Not after today.”
Her tigress approached the wall, she leaned against it, pressing against the wall the way a housecat seeking affection would push on a leg.

“What do you mean?”

She heard him draw in a breath and knew he was grasping her scent the way she wished she could take his in, deep in her lungs. Damn the witch that did this to him. Damn her. It would soon be undone, though. It would.

“I have good news.”

“Do tell? And where is Isabel? Don’t tell me the good news is that Isabel found someone.”

Ana laughed.
“Quite the opposite. She made an enemy, I think. Though their dynamics are strange. Then again, my sister is different.”

“So your news?”
He prompted her

“I’ve found someone to lift the spell that binds you here.”

“Really?”

Her heart ached at the excitement in his tone, because she knew that it would mean the end of their friendship. There was no way Bruno would allow her to have a man for a friend. And her feelings for Tino—those were more than friendship.

“Yes, really.”

“Do I have the option to refuse this?”

“Why would you?”

“Because it would mean losing you.”

She sighed, her heart swelling with joy and deflating with sadness, both at the same time.
“You shouldn’t do that. This is your chance. Who knows when there will be another.”

“How did you make this happen, miracle maker?”

“It’s a long story, involves a witch. Can it wait until after? She’s here. Outside. Waiting.”

“You mean it will happen now? She’s really here?”
Excitement was back in his voice.

“She is.”
She shifted into her human form, then said. “And I’ll be right back with her.” She didn’t want him to change his mind or argue with her. And if she was in her human form, he could hear her, but she couldn’t hear him.

Unless he shook the walls.

Please don’t shake the walls,
she pleaded silently as she slipped out the door and ran outside and down the stairs toward the waiting Esmerelda and shifters.

“Let’s go. We’re ready.” She grabbed Esmerelda’s arm and tugged.

“You are more than friends. That much is clear,” Esmerelda mumbled

“Shifter hearing. I heard that,” Ana reminded her.

“I know.”

They all went inside. Ana led them to her sitting room, confident that Tino would still be there.

“Tino, this is Esmerelda. She will be helping us.”

Esmerelda looked at Federico and the other shifters. “I’d like privacy.”

“Can I stay?” Isabel pleaded.

“You will have to stay out of the way.”

“I will. I’ll be right here by the window.” Ana closed the door behind the departing shifters and detoured toward the chair by the window.

“If you don’t mind, I don’t like performing in front of an audience.

Seriously?
“I understand.” Anything to get Esmerelda going. Anything.

Ana kept her eyes glued on the window, too keyed up to enjoy the view of the back yard, with the topiaries and statues that their landscaper had put in place. “Tell me when I can turn around.”

“I will. Silence, please.” Esmerelda’s tone was terse.

Ana heard a commotion. Men shouting. It seemed that they were near the front door. She was itching to go check, to make sure everything was okay, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave the room.

She kept her eyes glued to the greenery outside, not even trying to look in the reflection. She couldn’t afford to anger Esmerelda and have her back out of this arrangement.

She heard a cracking sound and almost turned.

Almost.

She fought the urge to turn by digging her nails into her palms.

“Ana?” Her name sounded broken up, as if coming from a dried husk of a throat. Of course, he hadn’t spoken out loud since he’d been put in there. But…

Oh my god. His voice. It sounds almost the same as it had in sync.

She whirled around.

There he stood. Everything she’d ever thought a man should look like and everything a lover could be. And her dear friend.

She feasted on his image, drinking him in like a woman who’d been wandering in a desert for a lifetime.

“Cristiano.”

He looked like she’d imagined he’d look. Well, if you want to consider that the only thing she’d imagined was a vague sexy image.

Tino had dark brown hair, buzzed close to his scalp. He had been coming to meet—and hopefully, impress—his father. Tall frame, broad shoulders, wide chest, his jawline was square, his eyes dark, the color of wet espresso grounds.

She held her breath at the sheer beauty of the man. He looked as if he had no idea how positively sexy he was; she could tell just from looking at him.

Chapter 18

C
ristiano breathed deep
. He knew what she looked like. He’d always known. But this, he savored her scent, relishing an aroma that was uniquely her.

And she belongs to another man. Even if he’s not much of a man.

He glanced at the red-haired witch. “Thank you, Esmerelda.” He barely managed the phrase.

It looked like he’d have to get used to talking again.

He took a step away from the wall, and stumbled, seeking stability from the dresser next to the wall. He steadied himself.

“It’s really true. I’m free. After all this time. I’m free.”

Ana was frozen in place, staring at him.

How he wanted to run to her, to hold her to his body, to feel her against his body.

There was a knock at the door, interrupting his thoughts.

Probably a good thing, since she belongs to Bruno.

“Everything okay in there?” Federico’s voice.

Esmerelda opened the door. “Everything is fine. My part is done.”

Federico studied Tino. “Federico Tiero.” He approached Tino and held out his hand.

“Cristiano.” Tino was stumped. He was a shifter’s son. He should use his father’s name. “Cristiano Carrera Ricoletti.”

Federico nodded. “I’ve met your father.”

I wish I could say the same.
Tino merely acknowledged the proclamation with a nod.”

Esmerelda poked her head out the door. “I heard a commotion.”

“Yes. That.” Federico rubbed his jaw. “We had a problem. I’m not sure… well…” More jaw rubbing.

Tino watched Ana watching Federico. “What is it she asked?”

“We were attacked. Unexpectedly. And we had to defend ourselves.”

Ana’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

“A bull shifter. Bruno Vergo. He attacked us. We tried to talk to him. There was no reasoning with that shifter.” A long exhale, then “He’s dead.”

Tino wished he could have felt bad for what he was hearing. He couldn’t. He’d seen too much of Bruno Vergo. He knew what he was about.

He reached out to Ana. She crumpled into his arms.

“I know I should feel grief—”

“Hush,
cara mia
. Hush.”

“You should not.” Esmerelda said. “He did not have a reputation as a good man.”

“He was released from his position at Wyt’s Skerry. With good cause, though it couldn’t be proven.” Federico added, with a glance at Ana. “He was your mate?”

“By my father’s arrangement.”

Another commotion and voices came from the others side of the hallway, toward the back of the villa.

Chapter 19


T
hat’s
my mother’s voice.” Ana pulled herself from Tino’s arms and ran out the door, with Tino closely on her heels.

She was still reeling from the idea that her tormentor was dead. She wasn’t one to wish death on anyone, but now she was free of Bruno’s attacks and advances.

She ran toward her mother. “Mama.”

Mama glanced at her. “You worried me when you weren’t home last night.”

“I’m sorry, Mama. I had to run an errand.”

“Did that errand involve your sister being dropped off or lost?”

“No, Mama.” Ana’s face burned. Some kind of caretaker of her family she turned out to be. “I’m sorry. Isabel is—”

Federico stepped forward. “Your younger daughter is a guest at our villa, Signora.” He held out his hand. “Federico Tiero. I’m friend of Isabel and Ana’s.”

“Young man,” Mama began.

Oh no. Ana knew that tone all too well.

“I may be old, but I’m not deaf, blind, nor senile.”

“Yes, Signora.” Federico backed up, giving Ana a glance. A look of chagrin was on his face.

“Step forward.” Mama pointed at Tino.

Tino approached her as she indicated for the housekeeper to wheel her closer. “You’re the one who has been making things fall from the walls.”

“I have.”

“And you’re the one that talks to my daughter through the walls, when she takes on her tigress’s form.”

Ana gasped.

Tino nodded, confusing on his face.

Mama smiled. “You two are not the only ones who can shift. And listening in isn’t difficult.”

“Yes, Signora,” Tino said.

Mama turned to Federico. “Did I hear you correctly? That worthless bull is dead?”

“He is.” Federico nodded.

“Good riddance. He’s been drugging me, you know. Sedatives, to keep me from acting out, as he put it. He said if I didn’t take it, he’d make life a living hell for Ana.”

“Oh, Mama.” Ana rushed to her mother, lowered herself and put her forehead against her mother’s. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. Your father wasn’t well. He made a bad decision. I quit taking the drugs that Bruno left for me long ago, but I had to fake it, until I could come up with a plan.” Mama looked at Tino, then Esmerelda, then Federico. “This worked out better than any plan I could have come up with.”

Ana kissed her mother’s cheek then pulled away. “I’m afraid I’ve been a disappointment.”

“No such thing,” Mama assured her. “Now tell me what your sister is really doing?”

Esmerelda stepped forward. “She’s collateral. For me. So that I would return.”

“Then let’s go get my daughter.”

Ana stared at her mother. This was the mother she grew up with. This wasn’t the shell of a woman who’d become a widow, and it wasn’t the woman who’d yielded to Bruno’s bullying.

She let a tiny smile appear on her face. She was so proud of her Mama.

“Cristiano.” Mama said. “I expect you’d like to accompany us to the Tiero household?”

“Indeed.

“Federico. You’ll have your men take care of Bruno’s body, since he was felled by yours? And have two of them go to the Shifter Council to explain what has happened here so that my family has no problems with legalities. I’m sure it’s safe to say that my daughter has regained her father’s stolen fortune now, as Bruno’s widow.”

“Let us go out the back,” Ana said. She had no will to see Bruno’s body.

“I’ll have the vehicles brought around the back.” Federico indicated to one of the shifters with a wave.

BOOK: Stonebound: Shifters Forever Worlds (Skeleton Key)
10.67Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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