Page 45 of The Vanishing
Mia freezes and stares at Cellina as if she’s just declared something stupidly obvious, like water is wet. Her friend shrugs. “He’s realm leader. It’s his job.”
“But still… I know what it’s like to be busy and driven, but there has to be some balance.”
“I don’t know.” Mia stuffs her compact and lipstick back into her purse. “All I know is, there’s one Bianchi left on the market. Nino is cute, right? Like sweet and unassuming. Giovanni is afucking man.” Mia grunts and flexes her arms to emphasize her point.
Cellina falls back into the couch, laughing. “What is he again? One more time, I missed it—”
“Shut up.” Mia grins. “You know what I mean. He’s all broad and tall with those gorgeous greenish eyes, and he takes care of all the shit. That’s my ideal—take care of me. Look after my drunk ass.”
Cellina is laughing so hard she can barely catch her breath. “Giovanni doesnothave time to take care of your drunk ass.”
“You don’t know that.” Mia reaches over and smacks Cellina’s hip, playful. “He might have a few extra hours to spare. At night… in his bedroom.”
There’s a soft knock on the door to the study. It opens and Giovanni is there. He’s more casual than normal in dark blue jeans and a light beige sweater with his sleeves pushed up over his honeyed forearms. His golden-brown hair is cut short now, the length trimmed and cleanly swept back from his chiseled face.
Mia stands up like a rocket, surprising Cellina as she stares from the couch. Her friend bows, polite. Prissy. “Good afternoon, your grace—it’s such a pleasure to see you here.”
Giovanni smiles as he walks forward, game face on. “Hello, Mia. Cellina.” He’s carrying a small pink box with a neat string handle. It’s about the size of a half-loaf of bread. “Did you both enjoy the soiree yesterday evening?”
“It was delightful, your grace.” Mia bats her eyelashes, sitting back down on the couch as if she were a swan. Cellina places her palm against her face, amazed as Mia continues. “You looked very handsome in your suit—but truly, you look incredible in anything… or maybe in nothing?” Mia lifts one shoulder, flirtatious. Cellina covers her face with both palms.
“Thank you for the compliment.” Giovanni grins, humble. “I’m looking forward to your performance inGisellein the fall season. Have rehearsals already started?”
“Well I—” There’s a beeping sound from Mia’s purse and she curses underneath her breath. She takes her phone out and turns off the alarm. “Actually, rehearsals start next week. But I need to get going—hair appointment. My apologies, your grace. It was an absolute pleasure seeing you.”
Mia stands, then bends and kisses Cellina on both cheeks before rushing past Giovanni and out the door. After she shuts it, he turns to look at Cellina. “Is she drunk?”
Cellina laughs. “Not at the moment, no.”
“Mm.” Giovanni frowns. “That’s rare…”
Unfolding her leg from its tucked position beneath her, she points her toes at the small box he’s carrying “And what is this?”
“There’s a Japanese bakery near Porta Nuova. I was in the area for a social visit this morning, so I stopped by.” Cellina sits upright, folding her legging-clad limbs against the couch and accepting the box with both hands as he gives it to her. He groans in a sigh and sits on the floor, his back against the couch just beside her.
She unties the string, then lifts the flap. Inside sits a moist and buttery-smelling Castella cake. She breathes a little squeal. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Is Mia still your source?”
“These days. For better or worse.” Cellina examines the cake. It isn’t a single slice like she’d always received in vampires’ houses or at cafés when she was in Japan. It is a small cake unto itself. She’ll need more coffee.
“She’s been your friend for a long time,” Giovanni says thoughtfully, the lines in his forehead crinkling. “Does her blood taste different when she drinks too much?”
“It’s not too bad. If she knows I’m going to feed, she cleans up her act for at least twenty-four hours prior. Giovanni, who’s your source? I know your parents originally chose Dante, but he’s mated now… Is it Sergio?” The image of Giovanni’s equally mannish and charismatic friend flashes in her mind.
“Absolutely not.” Giovanni frowns even harder.
Cellina tilts her head. “I thought he was your friend?”
“He is… kind of.” Giovanni sighs. “It’s hard to consider vampires as friends when you’re purebred. They always want shit from you. I talked to Haruka about it once and he agreed. He said his entire life had been spent focusing on what everyone else around him wanted and needed until he isolated himself in England. Apparently, Nino was the first genuine friend he’d ever made… but then they started fucking each other, so I’m not even sure if that counts.”
“Itcounts.” Cellina laughs. “God… Junichi is his genuine friend now?”
“They definitely can’t fuck.”
Rolling her eyes, Cellina shakes her head. “Nino called me yesterday morning and said that Haru is still a ball of tension and not sleeping. So of course, Nino is stressed the hell out. I don’t know how long they can function like this.”
“I offered to come back and help, but Haruka insists that they’re fine. I don’t know, but something has to give.”
