Cara MIA - By Book One of the Immortyl Revolution - By Denise Verrico Page 0,69
I know what he promised you! Let’s read what tender phrases Cupid concocted to woo you. Oh my, this is dull. No wonder you’re in tears. Oh, this is promising, ‘How lovely you looked the last time I saw you with the wind in your hair and the moonlight in your eyes… but how sad, so unhappy to be chained to that monster.’ Don’t you see? Brovik put him up to it. The boy turned those big, blue eyes on and you turned to mush covered in molasses. Do you really believe that effeminate creature cares for you?”
“He’s not effeminate! He’s— something beyond your understanding!”
Ethan grabbed my arm and pulled me to him. “He’s a killer, Mia, just like the rest of us. Haven’t I taught you anything? Stupid, does he put you in mind of that boy you fell in love with when you were fifteen? Wake up my dear, he’s devoted to only one love, you have the wrong set of equipment.”
“No. That would be you.”
Ethan hauled off and slapped me. “I’m putting a stop to this now.”
He stalked out of the room and went downstairs to confront Brovik. I was momentarily paralyzed. What if all Ethan said was true? I’d been misled once already. Maybe it all was a ploy, and the things Kurt had said to me for years were just lies. I had to find out. I followed Ethan downstairs, where Philip was stirring the fire, and Brovik leafing through a pile of papers Ethan had prepared, our expenses for the trip home.
Ethan waved the letter in Brovik’s face. “So. You promised her the boy. You put him up to writing her love letters.”
Brovik was nonplussed and pushed Ethan’s hand away as if shooing a fly. “I only encouraged him. The words and the sentiments are his own.”
“You manipulated her and deceived me.”
Brovik’s liquid smile flowed once more. “It has worked to our advantage.”
“Well, now that this is out in the open, we can end this little charade.” Ethan turned to Philip. “You had a part, too.”
Philip’s face was troubled. “The child was lonely. I thought friendship with one her own age would be good for her. I never meant harm.”
I appealed to Philip. “Tell me the truth. Was all this all a ploy?”
“Not on my part. I believe Kurt had no part, either.”
“The boy had no part,” Brovik said, not looking up from the figures on the paper. “He genuinely cares for her.”
Ethan was furious. “Isn’t this all so touching? The fact remains that she’s mine and I have no intention of giving her up. She just made me a cool fifty thousand, between my compensation and the painting.”
“It’s my desire she remain with you,” Brovik replied. “I discussed this with her outside.”
Philip was perturbed. “Do you even love the girl, Ethan?”
Ethan’s face gave no clue as he replied to Philip’s question, “Ask Brovik, he knows the answer.”
Brovik looked bored. “This work is important to us all. You two will work out your difficulties. Philip and I have business in Rome. I can’t stay here and argue over hurt feelings.”
“You wreak your havoc and move on, just to get what you want.”
“Remember that Ethan and you’ll have an easier time of it. I didn’t survive a thousand years by worrying about sensibility. I get results anyway I can. We have bigger things to worry about than Mia fancying Kurt.”
I trembled from head to foot with anger. “You used me. You’re as bad as Gaius!”
Brovik grew horrifyingly still. “I won’t have either of you getting in the way of our progress. I don’t care if you despise each other. You’ll do as you are ordered. Philip, let’s go.” He abruptly left the room.
Philip kissed my cheek and whispered into my ear. “Courage, little one— the boy is true.”
I pulled away from him. “You told me never to trust anyone. I guess you were right.”
“Philip, come,” Brovik called from the door.
Philip shook his head, taking one last look at us before he left with Brovik. “Ruthven, old chap, we’ve made a sad mess of things.”
Ethan looked as if I were an insect he scraped off of the sole of his shoe. “Here I thought it was Brovik, but all along he was pandering his paramour to you.”
“Well, that should work for you. Brovik’s bed is a bit crowded. Go on, hit me again, leave bruises. They will fade. I found that out with Dirk.”
“You endured that animal because Brovik promised you an opportunity to rut with