Page 61 of A Murder of Crows

But when I look up, he’s already gone.

Chapter twenty-nine Luciano

Inearly kick Dante V’Arezzo in the ribs as I leave. He looks just as startled as I am, sitting on his ass outside my little crow’s front door. “What the hell are you doing here, Morelli?”

Surveying him, I tilt my head. “I could ask you the same question.”

He huffs, but he doesn’t respond. Choosing to keep my own counsel, I glance around. The copse of trees outside Caterina’s apartment sway in the breeze, leaves gently rustling. “Looks like it’s going to rain.”

He stays silent, and I blink, assessing him with new eyes. Taking in the gun balanced across his legs. “You’re staying out here. All night?”

That doesn’t sound like the Dante V’Arezzo I know.

The glare is glacial. “In case you hadn’t noticed, there’s a fucking death sentence over her head.”

Oh, I noticed. Haven’t thought about much else the last few days.

Caterina Corvo is taking up far too much space inside my head.

But then, that’s nothing new.

My fingers curl into a fist, the image of her battered, rope-burned neck permanently etched into my memories. And probably my nightmares, too. “If there’s a rota, you can put my name down.”

I don’t know who’s more surprised at the words. Dante opens his mouth, then closes it again. “Speak to Rossi. He’s co-ordinating.”

Domenico Rossi. The protector. Of course he is.

My laugh is soft, and Dante glances up at me in silent question. “Who’d have thought it? Our first female heir, and here we all are, panting after her.”

It’s as close to a confession as I’m willing to give, especially to him.

He leans his head back against the railing. “It’s not because she’s the first.”

No, it’s not. There is something about Caterina Corvo, something magnetic. As if she’s the fucking sun, and we’re all just circling her orbit.

Helpless to resist.

It’s not a feeling I’m used to. I like control, obsess over having it in every aspect of my life. But with her… I have none. No control at all.

“Well, then,” I say softly, stepping over him. “May the best man win, V’Arezzo.”

Fighting words, but as I stroll away, I know the truth. It sticks to me like ashes, follows me everywhere.

There’s not a chance in hell that Caterina Corvo will ever choose me.

It already happened once.

And I fucking blew it.

Chapter thirty Caterina

Istare down at the dead crow at my feet, crumpled and broken.

And then at the next one.

A trail of them, in fact, leading all the way down the path I take every morning towards the dining hall. “How imaginative.”

Dom grunts, reaching out to poke one with his foot. “We need to switch up your routine. I’ll get these cleaned up.”