Avenger of Blood Read Free Page B

“even though he is not a believer—yet. He will be someday, I know in my heart. And Antony has never opposed my charitable work, though he sometimes complains that I spend so much of my household budget to feed others that my own pantry is empty. But I notice that he’s taken more of an interest in good deeds since you’ve been helping me.”
    Helena chattered on about her oldest son for a moment, and Rebecca frowned when she finally realized that her friend was trying to play matchmaker.
    â€œHave I said something wrong?” Helena asked, then didn’t give Rebecca a chance to reply. “I don’t mean to be insensitive, and perhaps it’s not the right time to bring this up, but you don’t want to spend the rest of your life alone . . .”
    She would have to think of a way to stop Helena. Antony seemed to be very nice, even though she had only met him a couple of times. An attorney, he was helping Peter and Jacob through the legal morass of getting their father’s will probated. However, nice wasn’t the issue. Rebecca simply was not interested. She would have to find a polite way to tell Helena.
    When they arrived at the villa there was no bustle of activity as they entered the atrium, the large central room of the home. Rebecca was looking forward to a quiet hour or two. Peter and Jacob would not have returned from the harbor yet, and Marcellus was usually visiting John at this time of day. Perhaps she could even take a nap before dinner.
    â€œWe’ll talk about this later, Helena,” Rebecca said firmly as she headed upstairs. “I need to check on Victor right now.”
    â€œOh, bring him down if he’s awake,” Helena called after her. “I love that precious boy. It’s been so long since mine were babies, and I do enjoy holding them . . .”
    Helena’s voice trailed off as Rebecca reached the top of the stairs. She was glad to get back home to her son. Until this week Victor had never been out of her sight for more than a few minutes, and she missed him.
    Rebecca tiptoed into the bedroom and closed the door softly behind her, in case the baby was sleeping. She had taken only a few steps into the room when she stumbled and almost lost her balance. She looked down to see what had tripped her and found Agatha lying crumpled on the floor, bound and gagged, a deep gash on the back of her head. Blood had pooled and caked on her face and neck.
    Rebecca knelt down beside the housekeeper. Agatha was alive but unconscious.
    Instinctively, Rebecca loosened the gag and was starting to untie Agatha’s hands when an icy fear gripped her heart. Victor!
    Stifling a sob, Rebecca stood and looked around frantically. Then she ran to the other end of the room, where Victor’s crib stood next to her bed.
    A long, gleaming sword lay across the empty crib.

2
    â€œFOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, it’s over.” Antony was delighted to deliver the good news to his clients. He sat across from them in their office at the harbor, the sounds of the cargo handlers drifting in from the dock outside as the three of them conferred over the case.
    He marveled once again that the brothers were actually twins. Peter and Jacob were physical opposites—Peter, thin and frail; Jacob as muscular and sturdy as a plow ox. Antony had quickly learned they had opposite temperaments, as well. Peter was cautious and deliberate, while Jacob was impulsive, a man of constant action. He was pacing the floor, in fact, as Antony spoke.
    â€œThere will be an official ruling by the court,” he continued, “but I can assure you that it is just a legal formality.”
    â€œYou’re positive?” Jacob asked. “I don’t want to leave for Rome until I know everything’s settled.”
    â€œAbout as positive as I can be. Both the law and public sentiment are on your side. Your father was well respected in this community, while the late emperor was