Chapter 47

She killed one of the guards!" Leroy shouted at the older gentleman who sat reclining in his desk. His gray hair and wrinkled face did not take away from the look in his brown eyes. He was angry, and it showed. He wore a black evening coat and trousers, white shirt and matching cravat. In one hand he held a glass of brandy and his knuckles were white from where he clutched the glass in his rage. Leroy was pacing back and forth in his own rage as he cursed Christine and her husband.

"You should not have underestimated her," the man, Michael, spat. Leroy's face was livid.

"She is a gawky girl, Father! Was I to know that she was capable of such a thing!" Leroy demanded. Michael threw the brandy glass across the room where it shattered and he stood up, leaning forward on the desk. Leroy took an involuntary step back.

"You know who her mother is! We underestimated her once and you look where that got us!" he screamed. Leroy looked away, knowing it would be wise for him to stay silent. When his father got mad there was no way to predict what he was going to do next. But Christine getting away had not been in their plans. They had planned on using her to get to Erik, but now with her gone Erik had no reason to come to them on their terms. Leroy knew that the man very well come after them and kill them both. They had to stay on their guard if they were going to finish this their way.

"Desslar has a manor here in Rome, we know they will go back there," Leroy said, trying hard to come up with a good plan to make up for his mistake of allowing Christine to get free.

"Yes, and what good will that do us? He has guards everywhere!" Michael growled. Leroy shook his head, an idea forming in his mind.

"No, there might be a way to get in," Leroy murmured. Michael slowly sat back down in his chair, waiting patiently for his son to continue. Leroy had always been a very smart man, he was sure he would figure something out to get to Desslar.

"In two weeks it is all Hallow's Eve...we both know that Desslar always had a freakish obsession with the holiday," Leroy said. Michael shrugged.

"Your point being what?" he demanded, becoming impatient.

"Every year Desslar throws a masked ball...we could easily get in with everyone wearing masks," Leroy said. Michael got up and went to his son, taking his hand and shaking it. Leroy sighed in relief.

"Son, I think that is a brilliant idea!"

"I think you should leave the robe off," Erik murmured. Christine glanced at her husband in the mirror where he was in bed. He was reclining against the headboard, the sheet bunched at his waist so she got a perfect view of his broad chest. She had just slipped the robe on when Erik had made his comment. She shook her head at him. After he had told her his story about him and his mother he had made love to her on the sofa...on the floor and against the wall. Afterwards he had suggested that they move to her room. They had been there for several hours. Christine knew her body would not be able to take anymore for a few days at least.

"I need to talk to Sienna to make sure she is alright," Christine said. She felt bad that she had left Sienna to get used to her new environment on her own.

"Mademoiselle De Luca has your brother to see to her needs," Erik said, climbing out of bed. He wrapped the sheet around his waist and slowly made his way to her.

"I know what you are implying, Erik, and I want you to stop it, my brother is an honorable man, he will not shame Sienna," Christine said. She turned from the mirror and made her way to the door, but not before Erik had managed to grab her arm and push her up against the wall. He undid the pins in her hair that she had just spent the last ten minutes on making sure they would hold her heavy hair up. They clattered to the floor and Christine sighed against his insatiable mouth. When he began to undo her robe however she pushed away from him, shaking her head with a small laugh.

"No more, Erik!" she said, hitting his arm playfully. The look in his eyes told her that he did not like that answer. Christine's cool hand cupped his cheek and her eyes found his.

"My body needs to rest, I am not used to such activities," she said softly, hoping he would understand. She would make love to him again but knew it would end up only being painful to her because she was just to sore. Erik kissed her before pulling away.