The Darkness in Dreams (Enforcer's Legacy, #1)(48)

“She’s alive?” Christan’s voice was soft, the question precise. Lexi remembered the tone, what it meant, and shivered.

“Yes,” said Luca evenly, but with the same deadly tone. These men protected their own and an attack would be avenged.

“What damage did she sustain?”

“Nothing physical, for which we are grateful. There are emotional scars, and the returning memories. She will recover with time.”

“And the man responsible?”

Luca’s smile was cold. Satisfied. “He was acquired by Dante, who interrogated him. The man confirmed our suspicions before losing his ability to speak.”

Christan nodded and stared down at the files. “Is Kace still in your area?” he asked, and Lexi shivered again at the cold authority in his voice.

“That is the assumption,” the Italian said deferentially.

“What of the other girl?” Arsen asked.

“Giam obtained tapes from the security cameras outside the Caffé Condotti.”

A third monitor on the wall flashed and grainy video appeared, the action frozen in place. A girl of about twenty-two sat at a table beneath a white umbrella. She was dressed in jeans and a light-colored sweater, her long dark hair caught in a clasp at her nape. A man was sitting across from her, leaning forward. A laptop computer was open in front of him.

Lexi stiffened, recognizing the man’s profile. Wallace. Or Kace. Or whatever he was calling himself in Florence. When Christan glanced at her clenched hands, Lexi forced herself to relax, pressing her palms flat against the table.

The video played, without sound, but the conversation could be followed by the body language. Kace was gesturing to the girl before he turned the laptop around so she could see the monitor. She nodded and lifted a cup to her lips as if she could hide behind the rim.

The breeze twisted the edge of the umbrella, causing bright sunlight to splash across her face. When the girl closed her eyes Kace leaned forward and touched her hand. The girl seemed to shudder. When her eyes opened, he was sitting relaxed as if nothing had happened.

“What did he just do?” Lexi asked the quiet room.

“Calmed her,” Christan said. “She’ll trust him now. It’s a talent we have.”

“Bastards.” Lexi used the plural deliberately, said the word so it would carry. When Christan glanced at her, she shrugged, and looked back at the video feed.

There was more interaction until the man checked his watch, picked up the laptop. Then, as if it were an afterthought, he turned back and handed a piece of paper to the girl, which she stuffed into a messenger bag beside the chair. The video cut off, and the screen went blank.

“That was two weeks ago,” Luca said.

“Phillipe says they lost track of her around that time,” Christan agreed.

“Then, yesterday, Giam picked up her vibration. When he arrived, all he was able get was this cell phone footage.”

Another video feed appeared, the movement jerky. The girl was running down a service alley, dodging construction equipment, a wheelbarrow and bags of cement. A man was in pursuit. He paused, glanced back at the camera, then… disappeared.

“What the hell?” Lexi exclaimed.

Dante’s voice carried from Portland at the same time. “Well, crap.”

There was a grim expression in Giam’s eyes. “My apologies,” he said in Italian. He seemed to be speaking to Arsen. “Wish I could give you more.”

Arsen nodded. Lexi turned to Marge. “What the hell did I just watch?”

Marge didn’t answer. Lexi stared at each man sitting at the table, waiting for someone to answer. It was Arsen who explained.

“The Calata uses telekinesis to summon any warrior they want and send them where they want. It hasn’t been used in years. Cell phones are more convenient now.” What he left unsaid was that the action alarmed them, and Luca’s voice broke the tension, redirected the discussion.

“Do we need to discuss the last photo?”

Lexi scanned the file in front of her, finding the information at the bottom. The victim was young, barely seventeen. The death had not been easy and appeared accidental—if falling off a bridge with solid pedestrian railings could be accidental.

“Kace did this, didn’t he?” She was looking at Christan. He nodded, once. “Is it always like this?”

“Yes. This is an immortal war. It’s been going on for centuries.”

Lexi was shaking, but she calmed when Christan’s hand settled against the small of her back. “Do you know how to stop him?”

“Yes.”

The pressure on her back increased. She thought it felt protective. The Italians were talking again, and both Christan and Arsen agreed to come to Florence to help find Katerina Varga—the dark-haired girl drinking coffee in the sun—who might also be Arsen’s mate.

“I have to go,” Lexi said as the conversation slowed down. “I have to go with you to Florence.”

“Why?” It was Arsen who spoke, and Lexi watched as worry darkened his eyes.

“I know Kace,” she said. “I’ve experienced night terrors, know what it’s like to have those memories forced.” Lexi stopped, then looked at Christan and repeated, “I’m going.”

“It’s too dangerous.”