Arcadia Awakens by Kai Meyer Read Free Book Online Page A

suits.
    Alessandro shook hands with everyone, often using both hands as if it were a fraternity ritual rather than an exchange of condolences.
    “The baron was very well respected,” whispered Zoe, so softly that Rosa could hardly make out what she was saying. “That’s his son. Alessandro Carnevare.”
    Rosa nodded as if she were seeing him for the first time.
    Zoe leaned even closer. “He’s going to take over as his father’s successor in a couple of weeks’ time. As long as nothing happens to him before then.”
    “Oh?” Rosa clenched one fist.
    “The man next to him,” said Zoe, unobtrusively pointing, “is Cesare Carnevare, the late baron’s cousin and his consigliere , his adviser, for many years. He’s running the business until Alessandro comes of age.”
    Rosa narrowed her eyes slightly to get a better look at the man. The hot midday sun laid a shimmering heat haze over the scene. There was an intense smell of cypresses and the musty odor of the gravestones.
    Cesare Carnevare was tall and by no means unattractive—you could probably have said that of the whole family. She put his age at fifty, but she wasn’t sure, because she would also have thought Alessandro in that suit was older than he really was. Cesare had a powerful build, broad shoulders, and huge hands, which were particularly obvious when he received the condolences of the mourners filing past. His enormous fingers could have enclosed any other man’s entire fist.
    Rosa glanced sideways at Zoe, briefly. Her sister went on, “Because everyone knows he’ll try to get Alessandro out of the—”
    “Hush,” hissed Florinda.
    They were almost within hearing distance of the family members in front of the chapel now.
    Beside Cesare stood a second young man, only a little older than Alessandro, athletic and tanned, with blond highlights in his dark hair. He wore rimless glasses. Rosa was surprised she hadn’t noticed him earlier. He was staring at her. Maybe he’d been doing so all along. So frankly and openly that something inside her turned to ice. She relaxed her fist—so as not to hurt herself if she had to go physically on the defensive.
    “Tano,” Zoe whispered to her. “Cesare’s son.”
    Florinda led the way. Without hesitating, without batting an eyelash, she gave the three men her hand. Neither Cesare Carnevare nor either of the two younger men showed what he was thinking. Brief, respectful courtesies were exchanged. For a moment Florinda’s delicate fingers disappeared in Cesare’s great paw.
    Zoe was next. She managed to give Alessandro and Tano a fleeting smile, but she could hardly look into Cesare’s eyes. Rosa thought her sister was letting her uneasiness show a little too clearly. She hoped to do better herself.
    She withstood Tano’s stare through the lenses of his glasses easily enough. Shook his hand. Expressed her sympathy courteously. Didn’t look away, made no nervous movement. She didn’t have to pretend; aggression was her strong point, and the challenge in Tano Carnevare’s eyes only made her feel more self-confident.
    Come on if you dare, her handshake told him, and from the flash of surprise in his eyes she saw that he’d read the message.
    She turned to Cesare, Tano’s father and the dead man’s cousin. He was a more formidable man, there was no doubt of that even from a distance. At close quarters, she could physically sense the aura of menace that surrounded the late baron’s consigliere . As she returned his cool, calculating glance, she saw her aunt in a new light, and for that she was grateful to him. Florinda must be an extremely determined woman to have faced an enemy like this all her life without giving an inch.
    “You must be Rosa,” said Cesare Carnevare.
    How did he know her name?
    “Welcome home.” His voice was deep and pleasant, not at all what she had expected.
    She nodded to him and continued on.
    Stopped in front of Alessandro.
    She put out her hand—and promptly missed