Guardians of Stone (The Relic Seekers) (26 page)

Using the directions Roberto had given them, they found the historian’s house on a little side street. An elderly man in thick glasses answered their knock. They apologized for visiting so
early and explained their request. He led them to a sitting room and gestured for them to take seats.

“Why do you want to know about the Protettori?” he asked, moving to an armchair across the room.

“A friend of ours had heard stories about the group,” Kendall said. “Someone told us you might have some information. We were hoping to learn more before we leave.”

“You are leaving Italy?”

“Yes.”

The historian studied them both for a moment, and then he nodded to himself and leaned back in his chair. “Not much is known about the brotherhood. According to the stories, the Protettori were protectors—as the name says—guardians of a secret treasure. There were rumors of gold and jewels, and even relics. Some of these objects were supposed to have secret powers. There were four that were the most powerful.”

“What were they?” Kendall asked.

“No one knows for sure. Many have searched. Some never returned.”

Kendall clenched her hands in her lap. “So no one knows where they were hidden?”

“I think if someone found out, they wouldn’t have been long for this world. The Protettori were very serious about their duties.”

“How old is the order?” Jake asked. His hands rested on his thighs. He looked relaxed, but she had learned to read his body language. He was tense. He had been since they left the inn.

“As old as Christ, I would imagine. I doubt anyone alive knows for sure. They pretended to be monks in order to hide their mission from the world. There were many in the brotherhood at one time, but there was a battle and several of them died.”

“What happened?” Jake asked.

“I think only the Protettori could tell you that.”

“Are there any Protettori left today?”

“Very few, I would think. But I don’t know for certain. No one is allowed near them unless they belong to the order.” He studied his hands, and Kendall could see from the pale skin on one finger that he had worn a ring.

“How do you know so much about the Protettori?” she asked.

The historian’s eyes grew distant. Kendall almost grasped something swirling in them, but he looked away. “I knew one of the Protettori a long time ago.”

“How does someone become part of the order?” Jake asked.

“They were selected from the bravest, the most loyal men, who then made a sacred vow to protect the relics.”

Kendall felt her head growing fuzzy and she heard a young boy’s voice. The historian’s voice intruded and she shook her head, trying to focus. She remembered the torn letter she had found in the tower. She had forgotten to ask Roberto what it said. “Can you tell me anything about this? It’s written in Italian.”

His veined hands reached for the paper and he studied it. “It’s a date. April twentieth. The year is torn off. The only thing legible is “must keep the secret.” The historian frowned. “You found this in the castle of the Protettori?”

Kendall squirmed in her chair, but it was too late to pretend she had found it somewhere else. “It was in one of the rooms.”

“So someone in the castle was keeping a secret,” the historian said.

“Didn’t you say you saw a bed with blood?” Jake asked. “Maybe someone gave birth there. Kendall is gifted. She senses things.”

Kendall was surprised at the lack of sarcasm in Jake’s voice.

The old man leaned forward. “Tell me about your gift. I’ve always been fascinated by such things.”

Again, she started to pick up something in his eyes, and it made her uncomfortable. “Oh, I just get some weird vibes.
Nothing ever pans out.” She ignored Jake’s frown and rose. “Thank you for your time. We have to be going.”

“My pleasure. I hope to run into you both again soon.”

After they left, the old man walked to the library and sat down at the desk. The visit hadn’t gone as he’d expected. He reached up with now straight fingers and pulled off his gray wig. He removed his thick glasses, and then put on the ring he’d taken off. One of his prized possessions. He didn’t like it to leave his finger. Straightening his stooped shoulders, he addressed the body stuffed underneath the desk.

“If they don’t have my spear, then who does?”

J
AKE KEPT AN
eye on the rearview mirror as they sped away from the historian’s house. His face was tight.

“Is something wrong?” Kendall asked.

“Just make sure we’re not being followed.” He glanced at her. “You’re quiet.”

“Something’s bothering me about the historian.”

“You think he’s in danger?”

“No. I think he was lying, but I don’t know what he was lying about. Something was...off about him. Maybe your suspicious nature is rubbing off on me.”

Jake navigated his way through traffic. “I think we should call our friend Edward and see if he knows more than he’s saying. Maybe we should ask him if he misses his family.”

They called, but Edward didn’t answer, so Kendall left a message asking him to call them back. “We know more about the secret order, but that doesn’t bring us any closer to finding the box,” she said. “I’m almost sure Brandi had it. She wouldn’t have freaked out over her bag otherwise. She said that I knew what was in it. Who could have taken it?”

“Maybe Nathan came back and took it. It’s not our problem now. We’ve been told not to find it, remember?” Jake winced and put his hand over his stomach as he settled back in the seat.

“You must be starving.” Neither of them had eaten recently.

“I’d kill for a medium-rare steak and a beer.”

“You think about steak a lot.”

“Steak and sex.”

Sometimes she had a hard time knowing if he was teasing, serious, or trying to distract her. “Forget sex, but I wouldn’t say no to a steak. Too bad we aren’t here under nicer circumstances. I would love to explore Italy. There’s so much to see. The Colosseum and the Pantheon. The Sistine Chapel, Saint Mark’s Basilica. And I’ve love to see Venice. I’ve never ridden in a gondola.”

“We can always come back after we get this mess sorted out.”

Did he mean as a couple?

They arrived at the airport where Andy, one of Nathan’s closest guards, met them and helped unload Kendall’s bags.

“Go ahead to the jet,” Jake said. “I need to use the restroom and make a call. I’ll meet you there.”

No he wouldn’t. He was lying to her.

He put his hand on her back, and a sensation shot through her body. She saw three bodies in a room, eyes blacked out like the thieves’. She didn’t know who the third body was, but the first two were Nathan and Jake. They were going to die.

Shaken, Kendall managed to keep her voice steady. “OK.” She waited until he disappeared and turned to Andy. “I’m not going.”

“I beg your pardon,” he said.

“I’m staying here.”

“I can’t let you do that.” Andy was tall and strong and more than capable of physically forcing her onto the jet. But he was kind. She’d always gotten along with him.

“Please, Andy. Nathan’s in trouble. So is Jake. I can help them.”

“I know about your gift, but if you’re not on the plane, it could be my job.”

“If you make me go, it could be Nathan’s life. I know you have to report to Nathan, but just give me a few hours. Please.”

After she’d convinced Andy, she hurried outside in time to see Jake getting in the Audi. She hailed the first taxi and opened the door. “I need you to follow that car.” She crammed her bags inside and jumped in. “Don’t lose him.”

The car shot forward, throwing her against the seats. The driver stayed back but kept Jake’s Audi in sight. He stopped at a car rental company. He must be switching cars again. Kendall’s taxi stayed out of sight, waiting for him to leave. After a few minutes, she heard rumbling, and a dangerous-looking motorcycle pulled out of the parking lot. The rider wore a helmet, so it was impossible to see his face, but she would recognize that body and backpack anywhere.

“Follow that motorcycle.” They tailed Jake to a hotel. She had the taxi driver stay back as Jake pulled into the parking garage. He swung a leg over the bike and stood. He pulled off his helmet and turned in her direction, as if he sensed he was being watched, but the taxi was hidden behind several other cars. Carrying the helmet and his pack, he started inside.

She tipped the driver well, took her bags and followed at a distance. When he reached the counter to check in, she swept across the floor toward him. “Hello, darling. Sorry I’m late.”

The muscles in his shoulders tensed, and he slowly turned. The look of surprise had faded by the time he fully faced her, but a storm was brewing behind those steel-gray eyes.

She dropped her bags and threw herself into his arms. Standing on tiptoe, she pulled his head down to hers and proceeded to kiss the daylights out of him right there in the lobby. His hand had come up automatically, gripping her arm, and she felt his touch soften. With him sufficiently off-kilter and the clerk certain she belonged here, Kendall moved her mouth close and whispered in Jake’s ear. “If you sneak off again, I’ll dig inside your head and uncover every underhanded, embarrassing thing you’ve ever done.” She leaned back and gave him a bright smile, and then an even brighter one for the benefit of onlookers.

“Ah, young love,” the clerk said, patting his heart.

Jake’s answering smile barely lifted one corner of his mouth. He gave her a penetrating stare that would have withered her if she wasn’t already so pissed. “There aren’t words to express how I feel seeing you here,” he said, running his tongue over his bottom lip. He took the key from the clerk and picked up both duffel bags, throwing them over his shoulder. She tried to get hers back, but he brushed her off. He picked up his backpack. With the other hand he grabbed her arm in a pretend lover’s grasp and pulled her toward the elevator.

“You’re supposed to be on the jet,” he hissed, baring his teeth in a fake smile for the benefit of a passing guest.

“So are you. How dare you skip out on me?”

“It’s too dangerous for you here. You heard what Nathan said.”

“I’m getting sick of you and Nathan telling me what to do. I can think for myself.” She stalked along beside him while he found his room.

He shoved the key in the lock and opened the door. “I don’t know what the hell you think you’re doing,” he said, stepping inside. “Do you have any idea how pissed Nathan is going to be?”

“He’s not going to be any happier with you.”

“You’re the one he cares about.” Jake dumped the bags on the floor.

“I’m staying. Deal with it.”

“You’re the most stubborn, irritating woman I’ve ever met.”

“You’re a jerk.”

He moved around the room, quickly checking under the beds, in the closet, behind the drapes, anyplace a speck of dust might be hiding. When he turned, he moved stiffly. “I’m going to take a shower.” He walked into the bathroom and slammed the door.

“Humph,” Kendall said to the empty room. She moved the bags out of the way and blew out a sigh. What was she doing here? Jake
was right. Nathan was going to be furious. Her head was beginning to ache and she was starving. She picked up the phone and ordered room service. Lasagna and a salad for her, the thickest steak she could get for Jake. Maybe that would soothe his temper. Then they could figure out how to keep Nathan from killing them and figure out what to do next. Including getting her a separate room.

She stared at her phone, wondering if she should just call Nathan and confess. No, she would wait until morning. She lay back on one of the two beds and tried to relive her dream, hoping for some clues as to how she was supposed to save Nathan and Jake. She had no idea what good she would do, but was certain she had to be there. She’d almost dozed off when she heard a tap at the door. She peeked out and saw a bellboy with a tray. She opened the door and he pushed the cart inside. The aroma of food made her mouth water. The bellboy lifted the lid, but it slipped from his hands and clattered onto the tray.

“So sorry...” His apology was cut short when the bathroom door burst open. Jake stood there, holding a gun. He was stark naked. Again.