“And one likely to keep your men a little less bloody, uh?”
“Si! Si!” Alfonsi sighed to Liam’s observation. “It is a torture having to inform wives they are now widows.” He regarded the younger man with an approving look. “Inteligente!” he raved.
Nandi beamed. “Told you! Un visionario!” Again, he clapped Liam’s shoulder. When his friend grunted, Nandi saw the man’s expression was far removed from a wince and closer to a full-blown frown.
When Liam bowed his head and threatened to tumble to the ground, his partners converged to assist.
“Shit!” Nandi noticed the blood seeping silent and deadly through Liam’s vest.
~12~
Athena prepared to meet her fate that afternoon as she listened to what sounded like a dozen boots approaching the door. She had expected her father, brothers and a host of their supporters to come wag their fingers in her face.
She couldn’t have been more relieved, if not bewildered, by the men who burst through the door with Liam slumped between them. Concern for her own woes, evaporated like mist and she raced forward to cup Liam’s pale face in her hands.
“What happened?!” She demanded without looking to any of the other men.
“Let’s lay him down,” Nandi suggested.
“Sit-sitting room,” Liam urged softly when his friends headed toward the bedroom.
“He was shot,” Nandi said once they had Liam seated on the old sofa. “He’ll be alright,” he assured the small beauty who knelt next to his friend at the sofa.
Nandi studied her, taking note of her brows drawn close. She took Liam’s temperature with the back of her hand before pressing her cheek to his as though that method would be a better judge.
“All is well, Signorina.”
“All is well?!” The edge was thick on Athena’s voice. “Are you an idiot, Signore?! He’s been shot! Why haven’t you taken him to a hospital?”
“That would not have been wise. Considering the way he came by that wound.” Nandi said.
“I’m fine, just a sc-scratch,” Liam insisted, smiling weakly when he felt Athena’s cheek pressed next to his again.
“The bullet grazed his side,” Nandi ventured forward with another explanation. “He lost so much blood because we didn’t notice the wound for quite a while. It’s been cleansed and dressed,” he said.
“One of the soldiers was a medic,” Beniton added.
“Soldiers?” The stormy light gained full intensity in her violet eyes.
“Quiet,” Liam issued the order faintly to Beniton.
“He mostly needs rest,” Nandi chimed in once more. “The bandages should be changed every two hours for the rest of the night.”
“I’m fine, but could you get me water?” Liam managed.
Quickly, Athena was off to do her host’s bidding. Alone, the men let their admiration be known.
“I heard she was beautiful, but...quanto angelica,” Tonelo made a pretense of clutching an aching heart.
Athena was soon returning with the water. “I already turned down your bed.”
“Grazie Athena, but-”
“No Liam, please, you need your rest.”
“She’s right, Li. We’ll help you.”
Athena sent Nandi a grateful smile while he and the others proceeded to move Liam to his room. In addition to turning down the bed, Athena had already drawn the curtains which shut out most of the afternoon sunlight.
“I’ll bring dinner to you here. The rest of you are welcomed to stay.”
“Athena-”
“Liam, shh!”
Nandi and the others hid their smiles.
“We’ll decline this time, Signorina...?”
“Cavalese. Athena Cavalese,” she said and had the decency to blush. “I must apologize for my mood before.”
“No apologies needed Signorina Cavalese. We are all pleased to know our friend is being so well cared for. I’m Fredrico Nandi,” he nudged the others from their stupors to introduce themselves.
The men were leaving ten minutes later. Athena returned to Liam’s side once she’d shown them out.
“It’s alright, it’s alright, Athena,” Liam soothed, kissing her palm when she wept for him. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t be so poor a host as to die on my guest.”
Athena wasn’t amused at first. “You shouldn’t tease about such things,” her lower lip trembled though and she gave into a smile. “What happened? How did you get into trouble with soldiers?” She asked while pouring him more water.
