Belly of the Beast

Chapter 14

The hotel shuttle dropped us off in front of the ancient building that served as the magisters meeting place, and I made straight for the cafe machine to see if they had decaf. Vincent followed me to the serving station and stood over my shoulder as I looked through the selections.

"I need something to settle my nerves," I told him as I chose something that claimed to be a decadent option for anyone avoiding caffeine.

"If you want the real thing, go ahead. I won't tell Dr. Hardwick, if you don't."

"Why Vincent, I may have to report you to the caffeine police." I grinned as I gave him a swift kiss on the mouth.

A moment later, George arrived, giving Vincent a friendly slap on the back. "Boy, am I glad to see you two. The tension is as thick as pea soup in here." He noticed Griffin riffling through the hot cocoa choices and smiled at her. "Hello, Griffin. I don't think I've seen you since you were eight years old."

"Well, I'm thirteen now, and I'm allowed to be here."

"I know. My son said the same thing, so I had to bring him along." George stepped aside to reveal a slightly shorter version of himself standing with his hands in his pockets.

"I thought you brought me because you needed my expertise." The blonde-haired boy gave his Dad a playful smirk then he turned to Vincent, jabbing his hand forward. "Travis Sterling. My dad tells me you're a genius when it comes to playing the market. I've wanted to meet you for a long time."

Vincent took the compliment in stride, shaking Travis's hand like the consummate businessman he was. "There may have been a meeting once, but I believe you were in diapers. You have an interest in preserving history, I hear."

If Travis was embarrassed by Vincent's diaper comment, he hid it well. "Yes. There's a lot more of it in Europe than America. We're going to Castelvecchio Museum after the hearing. They keep records about gollums there. But you probably already knew that."

Vincent smiled, looking almost smitten with the boy. "I did. My father took me there when I was seven. We might have time to visit the museum as well. Griffin was interested in the bridge that leads to it."

"You're going to love the Castelvecchio Bridge." Travis turned a wide-eyed smile on Griffin. "The original structure was built in the thirteen-hundreds but was destroyed by the French in the eighteenth century. It's since been restored to its old glory."

Griffin didn't move a muscle as she stared at Travis, and for the first time since I'd met her, the bubbly girl seemed to be struggling for something to say. "Vincent told me about the Ponte Pietra Bridge," she offered finally. "It was destroyed too...by the Germans."

A poignant moment hung in the air, with both of them smiling like a pair of awkward teens, until a large man with salt and pepper sideburns walked up behind George, laying a heavy hand on his shoulder.

"Good morning, George. I thought I'd see you here." He left George hanging to survey their group, getting only as far as Vincent, who dominated the space. "Hello, Vincent. I haven't seen you since your magister ceremony. Marco said you'd grown considerably."

Despite the guy's inappropriate choice of greeting, Vincent wore his mask of calm as he acknowledged him. "Hello, Paolo. Did you just get in? I heard Manjari's family has refused to give up the location of her missing husband. A bit of a sticky situation there."

As Vincent volleyed back, I made a sweep of the large courtroom, and my gaze landed on a beautiful Indian woman. I recognized her as Marco's wife. She stood next to an older man wearing an official-looking white robe.

"Sticky, indeed," Paolo said. "And I'm not here to defend my cowardly brother. I'm here to support Manjari and her family. They need resolution."

"Yes. Don't we all." Vincent reached for my hand and pulled me protectively to his hip. "Paolo, I'd like to introduce my mate, Reese. Marco's daughter."