The Immortal Greek by Monica La Porta Read Free Book Online Page A

end of the kitchen before entering the bricked archway that led to the short corridor ending with her studio on one side, and her master bedroom and annexed bathroom on the other. “What I want is to be alone.”
    Karl’s eyes widened in surprise as he stepped back. “Are you asking me to leave?”
    She swallowed the retort that had immediately come to her mind. “Yes, please. The investigation I was assigned to is a difficult one for me, and I don’t remember the last time I slept on a bed. I’m cross and I don’t want to take it out on you.”
    “Are you sure we don’t need to talk?” He hooked both hands in his jeans’ front pockets, rocking on his feet.
    His words had an awakening effect on her. She inwardly sighed, shook her head, and gave him a smile she didn’t feel while pointing at the kitchen table. “Maybe you’re right. We should talk.” The moment she said it, she felt lighter.
    “Sure.” He pointed his chin toward the counter behind him and the mess he had created. “You know I hate to idly sit.”
    She knew he didn’t want to have that conversation, but it was long time due. “Don’t worry. Marina’s coming today to clean anyway.” It wasn’t entirely true. She would call her housecleaner later to ask if she could come on her day off. When he didn’t make a move to reach for a chair, she took his hand and walked him to the table. She waited for him to sit, then eased herself onto the chair opposite him.
    “I’m not in love with you anymore.” Another weight was lifted from her shoulders.
    He opened his mouth, but not a sound came out of it.
    “And I don’t think you are. We’ve grown apart for some time now. We both know it.” She lowered her cold hands on her lap, massaging her fingers, wanting nothing more than to take a long, warm bath.
    “We should think about it.” He looked at her and the hurt on his face was painful to bear.
    She shook her head. “There’s nothing to think about.”
    “You have already decided then.”
    “It’s for the best. No need to drag things on longer than necessary.” Cold was now radiating to the rest of her body and she wanted the conversation to be over. She stood and walked to the door.
    Head low, he followed her, a beaten shell of his previous self. When she opened the door, he took her hand in his. “I’m not ready to lose you.”
    “Please, Karl, don’t make this any harder.” She gently extricated her hand from his and stepped to the side to let him out.
    “I still care for you—” He paused on the first step of the landing.
    She looked him in the eyes. “I do too, but it’s not enough.”
    He finally turned and she closed the door. Ravenna watched as he slowly descended the stairs and headed to his car parked around the corner. Discarding her clothes as she went, she wondered if she and Karl had ever really loved each other. They had met during World War II and immediately connected, but never lived together. She had always needed her space and her line of work wasn’t conducive to family life. Every decade or so they decided it was over, but soon after got back together again. She had always been okay with it, until now. Now, she knew it was over.
    She stepped in her bedroom, removed her heels, discarded her panties and bra over the bed, then carefully removed the earrings and the bracelet. Finally, she headed to the adjacent bathroom where she started running the water for the much-anticipated soak in her cast iron tub.
    ****
    His eyes heavenward, the pale light of the early morning bathing his face, Alexander waited for Marcus to pick up the phone and answer his call. He loved the Centurion as a brother, and as such, the Roman infuriated him on a regular basis. He knew Marcus often let his calls go to the answering machine when he saw Alexander’s ID. As a result, he had learned to call Diana’s phone after the third unanswered call. He had also double checked if it was too late to call them. The sun was out already,