“Unlikely?” Marco asked, incredulous. “Have you lost your mind?”
Saturnino let out a contented sigh, as if he were looking forward to what came next, and lightly jumped to his feet. His movements were nimble and agile. The brothers faced each other, one broad-shouldered and imposing, built like a wine barrel. The other lean and tall, his muscles defined, compact and elegant. In a fight between the two, Saturnino would prevail. He was the strategist, the patient killer who could wear his opponent down until they were weak with exertion.
“Give her to me,” Saturnino said, enunciating each syllable.
Ravenna knew him well enough to know that he was at his most dangerous when he spoke quietly. No teasing. No sarcastic edge. No provoking. His whisper was enough to makeherwant to run for her life.
“You know what has to be done.”
“It will not be done by you.”
“She’s yours after I question her,” Marco snarled.
Ravenna squirmed, but Marco moved his hand from her arm and up into her hair. He grabbed a fistful and yanked hard. Her vision filled with tears and she let out a gasp.
“She’s not yours to question.” Saturnino’s voice was very soft. “She’s mine.”
Marco looked down at Ravenna, the lines bracketing his thin mouth deepening. “She jumped in after you for a reason.”
Saturnino’s lips stretched into a feral smile. Ravenna sensed theemotion running through him, raw and restless, a storm brewing under his skin. It scared her more than Marco’s brute strength, more than the grip he had in her hair. Something had happened between them in the murky depths of the Arno, an impossibly fragile something that had bloomed against all odds, against all reason. She didn’t want Saturnino to ask her what that something was. She was terrified of the answer, terrified what he would find hidden in her heart.
“You can trust one thing, Marco,” Saturnino said, that feral smile stretching wider, his eyes locking on Ravenna’s. His next words were a terrifying promise. “I will discover that reason without any help from you. Last time. Give her to me.”
Marco opened his fist and flung Ravenna to his brother. Saturnino caught her, holding her upright and close to his side. He flicked a single glance down at her, a quick assessment. She gave him an infinitesimal nod, a silent communication passing between them.
Are you all right?
Yes.
I’m so angry with you.
I know.
Then he motioned to one of the guards to come forward. Ravenna wrapped her arms around herself, shivering. “Take Signorina Ravenna straight to her room,” Saturnino told the guard. “Have her maid bring up hot water for a bath. Make sure they send a tray with food and something to drink, something hot and sweet.” He gave her a gentle push. “Andare.”
Ravenna went to the guard, aware of Marco’s furious gaze lingering on her. From the corner of her eye, she caught him moving toward her, and she stiffened, bracing herself to run.
Saturnino’s voice was the snap of a whip. “Stay a moment, Marco.”
Marco stilled, the muscles in his jaw bunching. Anger seeped out of him, poisoning the air between the two brothers. One of the guards led Ravenna to a horse and helped her mount. Her wet gown clung to her limbs; she couldn’t seem to stop shaking. The wind whistledin her ear as the guards climbed onto their own horses. Words passed between them, but Ravenna could only focus on gripping the harness, on remaining upright. One of them clicked their teeth and they set off for the Palazzo dei Luni. There was a low snarl coming from behind her. Ravenna looked over her shoulder.
Saturnino had lowered his chin, his hands fisted at his sides. Marco shifted into a defensive pose. The horse picked up speed and they went over the hill, the gravel crunching underfoot.
Ravenna lost sight of the brothers as Saturnino threw the first punch.
Ravenna sank deeper into the copper tub as Imelda stared down at her, frowning slightly. She was sitting on a stool, her arms folded tightly across her simple tunic, lips pinched in disapproval.
“Your details leave much to be desired, signorina,” Imelda said.
“I’ve told you what happened,” Ravenna said as she dragged a cloth over her leg. “Why aren’t you pleased? The Medici have one less ally in the war against His Holiness.”
“Tell me again when Saturnino arrived.”
Ravenna was thankful she could hide the subtle tremor wreaking havoc over her body. The soapy water covered her all the way up to her breasts, but the tops of her knees were still visible. After the guards had dropped her off, it had taken Imelda only a few minutes to come barging in.
She must have been silently waiting in the shadows for Ravenna to return from the pope’s errand.
“Right after Signor Sforza died,” Ravenna said. “He was too late to save him.”
