we go swimming, then I’ll give you a tour of our villa.”
Hope paused. The man could jump from one topic to another with alarming speed. She had no clue what had just happened. One second, they were talking about a dead body. Then he was kissing her. Then the other Cardinals came into play. Now he wanted to go swimming? He was a whirlwind.
He cleared his throat, prompting her.
She stammered for a moment before finally finding the words. “Well. I think going for a swim sounds…” She trailed off for a moment as she struggled to find her footing. “Lovely. I suppose. And I would enjoy a tour of your villa, Nero.” She paused again. “If this is to be my…home, I suppose I should become familiar with it.”
“Great!” He coughed and tried again, downplaying his excitement. “Great. I’ll, ah…go pick you out a bathing suit.”
“I think Kema should pick out my bathing suit.”
“She learns!” The Egyptian laughed. “She’s a smart one, old boy. You’re doomed.”
“But…but…” Nero sighed and fell back again, letting out a long whine. “Why do I never get to have any fun? Why? Why curse me, gods? What have I ever done to deserve two harpies at my side?”
“I’m a harpy now? That is not how you win my favor, Cardinal.” Hope pushed his arm, shoving him playfully. The action shocked her. But he was disarming. Despite her best attempts, despite all her armor, despite all her horror—he seemed to break it all down. He was playful. Like a murdering puppy. But still a puppy, all the same.
What was wrong with her?
“She has fight in her. Oh, I like this.” He laughed. “All right, my dear harpy. Go with your kin to find some boring bathing suit. I’ll meet you by the pool.”
When she stood to follow Kema from the room, she found herself smiling. She shouldn’t be. He had just burned a man to death. But he was…funny. He made her laugh.
And that kiss.
Fates.
“When they were far enough away, Kema spoke up. “See? He isn’t so bad. Well, okay, he is. But it balances out.”
“I don’t know how to reconcile what has happened to me.”
Kema hummed. “I don’t know that you can. You just have to be strong. And you’re a strong girl, Hope.”
“How so?”
“You could be weeping in a corner or begging him just to take what he wants and leave you alone. You’re not. You’re going toe-to-toe with the madman. You’re keeping up with him. I’m impressed. I think you’re exactly what he needs.”
Exactly what he needs? For what?
His words echoed through her mind. That he had bought her with the intention of marrying her. But it was a joke—it was a laugh he was having with her. It couldn’t possibly be real. He had insisted, but something told her he was full of all sorts of stories and tall tales.
She would have to get the truth out of him. She couldn’t go on like this for days or more, let alone weeks, not knowing what he was after. Not knowing what he really wanted from her. She would have to scheme up some way to figure it out.
She didn’t know if she could, but she knew she had to try.
One way or another.
8
Nero held the phone to his ear by pinning it between his shoulder and his chin. “Sure, sure. It’ll be great. You can meet her, and I’ll throw a nice dinner. It’ll be lovely.” He was pouring himself a mimosa. It was technically almost noon. Not like the time on the clock ever stopped him from drinking before, but he liked having an excuse. Besides, mimosas were breakfast drinks.
“A religious advisor? Really, Nero? What’re you up to?” Hugo said on the other end of the line, already perfectly playing the role of the disapproving older brother. Bastard had no right to play that card, for a whole bunch of reasons.
“I’m not up to anything! Why would you say that?” He put down the pitcher, picked up the glass, and shifted the phone into his hand. “When’ve I ever been up to anything?” He grinned into his drink as he sipped it.
“Nero.”
“What?”
“What is this really about?”
He paused and turned to lean on the edge of the bar and gaze out at the pool. It was perfect. The bottom was an inlaid mosaic detailing the gods of the ocean. One side was waist deep, and the other went down twelve feet or so. Far enough that he could dive in without fear