Bourne by Lisa T. Bergren

Author:Lisa T. Bergren [Bergren, Lisa T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bergren Creative Group, Inc.
Published: 2012-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

~EVANGELIA~

We were riding home, sad and somber after our visit to Signora Mancini, and only the men shared quiet words between them. For Gabi and me, I think it just felt too real, too close, to be with a girl about our own age who was grieving her man. Only one thing comforted me—the guys we'd fallen for rocked this whole fight-for-your-life thing. Again and again, I'd seen Luca and Marcello escape impossible situations. As had Gabi and I.

Don't rehearse your problems, Dad always said. Meaning, we were only supposed to go through our problems when they were actually upon us. Which was good advice. Because thinking about going to visit Luca's grave, as Signora Mancini would eventually visit her husband's, just about made me want to burst into tears right then.

Luca caught me looking at him, my eyes actually wet with tears—of all the idiotic things—and dropped back to speak to me. "M'lady?" he asked. "May I be of assistance?"

"Nay, I was only..." I said, shaking my head, sniffing. I was only what? Thinking about how sad I'd be if you died? "'Tis nothing," I said, shaking my head again.

"Are you certain?"

I nodded, trying to smile brightly, assure him. He was peering at me, as if wondering if he should force me to tell him what was going on, when his chin lifted and he wheeled his horse about, scanning the horizon.

"Luca?"

I smelled it, then. Smoke.

"There," I said, pointing to our left. North. A curving column of black rose above the forest and continued to climb.

Luca's eyes met Lord Greco's as he and Captain Pezzati rode up from their scouting position. "That's near Castello Santi, if not the castello itself."

They nodded in clear agreement. Gabi and I shared a long look. Lord Santi? We'd bid him farewell but a few hours ago.

"Escort the women back to the castello," Luca said to the twins.

"Nay," Gabi said, slipping from her saddle and motioning for me to do the same. She quickly unbuckled the belly strap and yanked the saddle off her mare's back.

"M'lady, what do you think you're doing?" Luca said in exasperation. He dismounted and strode over to her.

"We shall ride with you. They'll need help. From all of us," she said, her tone brooking no argument. She tossed her saddle behind a big boulder. "You cannot send Georgii and Lutterius with us. You need them. And mayhap we can be of assistance too."

"M'lady," Luca said, rubbing his mouth in frustration. "Fire may mean the castello has suffered attack. I cannot very well lead you into that."

"Nay," she said, climbing the boulder and tossing her leg over the horse's bare back. "I shall lead you there."

I laughed under my breath. Trust my sister to put a man in his place, every time. I wished I could do it half as well. The others bit back smiles while I hurriedly unstrapped my saddle. Luca grabbed Gabi's reins.

"Gabriella," Luca said in exasperation, looking up at her, "what would Marcello have you do?"

"Permission, sir, to go on ahead," Lord Greco interrupted.

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