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I’m standing in an assassin school. I’m too intrigued to be terrified. I walk over to a rack of swords and spears. My fingers itch to play with the blades. “What am I doing here?” I ask.
Constantine places his hand on the stranger’s shoulder. The man still hasn’t moved. “This is Benjie. He’s a Lakan, a master in the art of Arnis, a traditional martial art of the Philippines. He’s in the city teaching some classes at my school. I thought you might enjoy a private lesson.”
I eye up the harmless-looking old man and the rack of glittering deadly blades. “Are you for real?”
“What did you think this is? Dinner and a movie?” Constantine takes my hand and leads me across the mat so I’m facing the Lakan. “I know that’s not your scene. Perhaps a demonstration?”
Excited, I text George and tell her what’s going on. Constantine turns to the master and asks something in Filipino. They each pick up a stick, which Constantine calls a baston. As they circle each other, Constantine explains that the style emphasizes angles of attack. Their bastons clash in a whirl of limbs. In a moment, Constantine’s stick flies from his hand and the crime boss is laid out flat on the mats, disarmed and helpless.
Okay, I’m interested.
Both Noah and I lean forward. The master steps back as Constantine drags himself to his feet and retrieves his baston. There’s a sheen of sweat on his brow, and blood trickles from a cut in his arm. He tosses the baston at me. “Your turn.”
I’m enthralled. The master – who speaks English in a soft, halting voice I have to strain to hear – shows us how to visualize a fight as a triangle, with your feet always stepping off the center line at an angle. Never before has geometry been so fascinating. He runs through a range of techniques that can be transferred from all types of weapons to the open hand, then has me fight Noah, then Constantine. When Constantine declares the lesson over, I glance up at the time and notice three hours have passed.
“Thank you. That was incredible.” I shake the master’s hand. Constantine sits crosslegged on the rug with a tea tray in front of him, his shoulders back, his breath controlled. Noah and I exchange a glance before settling down opposite him. It’s as good a spot as any to say what needs to be said.
“Where did you learn to swing a sword?” he asks me.
“Geeks on YouTube videos.”
“I’m impressed. You’re sloppy, but you have a ruthless streak that will help you in a fight. The fact you got the better of Brutus suggests you’re a natural.”
I debate telling him that Brutus was tied up with his legs broken, but I decide I don’t want to ruin my street cred. I accept a small cup filled with herbal tea.
“Thanks. I enjoyed myself today.”
“As did I.” Constantine smiles, and it’s as close to a genuine smile as the man’s capable of. “You may practice here any time you like.”
“What is this, a wedding present?” I narrow my eyes. “This has been fun and all, but I’m going home with Noah.”
He snorts. “I wish you would. I have no interest in marrying someone less than half my age. But let’s be candid. Nero already has an alliance with your family, one that’s been pushing Dio further to the edges. This wedding is his next move – he’ll tie our families together then, piece by piece, carve our empires to pieces to swallow down his fat gullet. I can’t stand by and allow him to take more from me.”
“And what about your tribune? Will she let you marry the woman who killed her lover?”
“Cali has no power here, which I grant is not pleasing to her,” Constantine says. “I’d say she’s all bark and no bite, but it would be a lie. Still, I don’t think you need worry. She knows the score – I won’t tolerate insubordination, even from my top assassin.”
It’s not exactly reassuring, but I’ll take what I can get. I tap my fingers on my knees. “I’m dissolving the business deals Brutus had with Nero.”
“That’s good, but it’s not enough. Will you be able to stop him putting a baby inside you?”
Noah growls. I shrug. “He can try.”
Constantine sips from his tea. “Nero underestimates you. The woman I saw today is capable of ruling as our equal.”
“Then let me do that. Refuse the marriage.”
“I can’t do that while Nero holds so much power. We need to stand together if we wish to secure our empires. Know that if I’m forced to go through with this farce of a wedding, I won’t share my bed with anyone who isn’t willing. But I can’t refuse and concede ground to Lucian and August. But perhaps,” his eyes twinkle, “there are mutually beneficial avenues that Dio and August have yet to explore.”
Claudia
“I don’t trust him,” Eli growls.
“He has no reason to lie to me,” I point out.
“Bullshit. The guy is an assassin. His job is to observe his prey, exploit their weaknesses, and move in for the kill.”
I toy with the knife. “True. This makes me think he’s a good sort of fellow to have on our side. I thought you’d be happy about this. If Constantine and I work together to destroy Nero, then I don’t have to go through with this marriage.”
