Cortigiana (A Vamp Life Prequel) by Jez Strider Read Free Book Online Page B

viciously.
Nothing she couldn’t handle, I was sure. All the girls had been
with a guy like that. But then, he bent her head to the side and
bit into her flesh. Loudly, he sucked on her neck like he was
starving.
For a second, I thought I would vomit. Then,
I started shaking. The girl needed my help, but what was I but a
courtesan myself? My mouth opened and I fully intended to threaten
Nicolo. Or at the very least, throw a book at him. Instead, a
scream pierced the room. At first I didn’t realize it came from me.
In a scramble, I darted for the door. If they were chasing me, I
wouldn’t have known. I didn’t look back. As I rounded a corner and
headed down the stairs, Dante greeted me at the halfway point.
    “ Evelina, my dear. What is
wrong?” He pulled me close to his chest.
    “ There is a… vamp… a vampire
in the library. He bit Laura and she is going to die unless you
help her.”
Dante’s eyes slanted for a second. “Cease
this nonsense. There is no such thing. That would be like telling
me you saw a ghost. Foolish girls. Isn’t that right, Antonio?”
    “ She is young, Master. You
know how their fantasies get worked up in their imagination.”
Antonio answered.
I peered around Dante to see Antonio looking
into my eyes. Until I’d heard his name, I had no idea he was there.
But, that didn’t matter. Laura needed help. “Please, I know what I
saw. Come with me.” Firmly, I grabbed Dante’s hand and pulled him
up the stairs toward the library. With the two large men in my
wake, I no longer needed to flee.
Master Sanuto gently moved me to the side
with a delicate push of his arm and, with both hands on the
handles, pushed the double doors open wide in dramatic fashion.
Nicolo sat on a sofa with Laura resting in his lap. There was no
blood that I could see as I stepped forward.
    “ I know what I saw. I
swear.”
Dante walked over to the couple and pulled
down the lace against Laura’s pale neck. “There is a small mark,
but nothing greater than the result of heavy foreplay. You cannot
throw accusations around like this, Evelina.”
    “ Did we do something wrong,
Master Sanuto?” Nicolo asked.
A sharp, hateful glare from Dante silenced
the man. “Not that I can see.” He moved from the couple and turned
his attention back to me. “What were you doing in here?”
I walked over to the couch I’d been relaxing
on. “I read a little. That is all. Then, I saw him bite her. His
actions were violent.”
Antonio followed me, picking up the book I
had left resting on the couch. “What sort of book is this? Vampires
as the true gods?” He scoffed, appearing repulsed by the idea. “I
think it is pretty obvious what transpired.”
    “ The library was here when I
purchased the home. I am sure there are many books with little
knowledge of value between the pages.” Dante moved closer to me and
gripped my arm roughly. “Antonio is right. It is clear to me that
you fell asleep after reading this filth and dreamed the whole
situation up.”
    “ You are hurting me.” That
phrase was becoming uncomfortably familiar. Tears welled up in my
eyes. The waterworks were more from embarrassment than
pain.
His grip relaxed a little. “Go to your room
until I come to you this evening. Make sure you read material
befitting a lady or nothing at all next time you decide to spend
time in the library.” He gave me a little shove. “Occasionally I
long for a time when all women were illiterate and obedient.”
I opened my mouth to argue before
immediately closing it again. To my right, I stole a glance at
Antonio with the book still in hand. He gave a disappointed shake
of his head as well. Nicolo and Laura were watching me, too. If I
could have, I would have crawled into a hole and died.
    “ You are right, sir. I will
make sure my behavior is adjusted and appropriate for a woman
blessed enough to be allowed to live at your side.” I gave a brief
curtsey with lowered eyes before heading off to sulk in my room. As
sure