Chapter 3
ENZO
The tux fits perfectly. Understated, but expensive.
I know Venice well and have been here many times. Each time I always stay at my favorite place, one of the best hotels in Venice, if not the best.
I don't know why I've been invited to this event at the Doge's Palace. I've never met Luca Valizar, but I know of him. Still, Luca Valizar is not a man somebody says no to, so I’m hoping to meet him. Perhaps he's someone I can do business with.
I adjust my bow tie, and my cufflinks, then put my watch on. The invite said the event started at six p.m. I grab my mask, then stop as I catch the view from the window. Lights shimmer across the dark water of the Grand Canal, boats cutting through their reflections.
It's a short walk to the Doge's Palace. I don't need a coat, and I can withstand the slight chill in the air. I hesitate, remembering Mama’s parting words to me. She was excited about me going to a masked ball and wondered if I’d meet someone here.
At a masked ball? Surely not. I’m dubious about meeting someone who’s hiding her face, and maybe her personality.
I’ll go, hopefully meet the mysterious Valizar, and then tomorrow evening or the day after, I’ll go and visit Mama. The thought of her makes me feel better instantly.
I stare at the mask in my hands. It’s a small Venetian face mask which I purchased from an artisan mask maker in Venice.
This one stood out instantly. It’s beautiful yet understated, made from fine leather with thin black satin ribbons and glistening dark beads in an elegant design.
It covers most of one side of my face, leaving my mouth uncovered.
It gives me the anonymity I like so much.
The question is, do I turn up wearing this? Or do I put it on when I get there?
Decisions. Decisions.
I decide to put it on just before I get there. I don't relish walking to the palace wearing this.
I'm about to leave when my phone rings. It's Rio, Facetiming me. I hesitate because I know Dex is with him. They’ve been texting me separately ever since I got here.
I pick up reluctantly.
Rio's big wide face fills the screen. “Hey, little bro. How are you doing?”
He adjusts the phone so that I'm now looking at Dex beside him.
Dex whistles. “You're looking very sharp there, though I'd expect nothing less from you. Very, very sharp.”
“Thank you.” I need to go.
“Come on then. Let's see all of you.” Rio winks at me.
I shouldn't have answered the call. “What do you want me to do?”
“Point the phone at the mirror and give us a full-length view of what you're wearing.”
I ignore his instructions. “You know what I'm wearing. A standard tux.”
“Then let us see your standard tux,” Dex retorts.
Rio presses his lips together like he's annoyed. “Just show us what you look like, and we'll let you go to the ball, Cinderella.”
These guys are a pain in my butt, but I wouldn’t trade the chaos they bring for anything. Rio and Dex are closer now, more like friends who’ve known each other all their lives than brothers who didn’t grow up together.
Their constant teasing and childish humor is a welcome contrast to the secrecy that shaped so much of my childhood. I value the lightness they bring, even as I roll my eyes.
“Show us, Cinders,” Dex whines.
This is so pathetic. I refuse to comply.
“We won’t stop harassing you otherwise.” Rio winks at me. “You could always turn your phone off if this is getting too much, bro.”
I still don't move.
But then I give in. Anything to get them off my back. After that, I'm leaving my phone here in my hotel room. I point my phone at the mirror so they can see me.
They both whistle.
“Verrrrry sharp.” Dex whistles again. I wish he'd stop. “You'll come back a changed man.”
“Why's that?” I ask.
“On account of all the women you’ll meet. Could be an entire harem.”
I flinch at the words. That's not me. That's not me at all. I'm not a serial dater, or a man who cheats. I'm very careful and selective about the women I date. That probably explains why my love life has been so sparse.
I don’t look for anything serious, because I never want to hurt anyone, and I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep. I’m all too aware that love is tainted by betrayal and secrets, and it leaves its victims broken.
I keep things light, until they want more, and that’s when it ends. It's hard to trust someone. To not be drenched in doubt. To not wonder if, when and how they might hurt you.
“Stop that.” Rio swats Dex gently across the shoulder. “This is my little brother. Don't go talking about him like that. Dani wouldn’t approve of you doing that either.”
“I'm a changed man, brother,” says Dex, “I've left my old ways behind.”
Rio pans into the frame so all I see is his big, dark eyes. “Have fun, little bro.”
“Thank you. Can I go now?”
“You may go to the ball, Cinders.” Dex chortles. “I hope you meet someone nice and secretive, just like you.”
Rio shakes his head, while Dex laughs like it's the funniest thing he's said all day.
I hang up, but not before I catch a text I hadn't noticed earlier. It's from Matteo.
Matteo: Enjoy the ball. Talk when you get back.
That's sweet.
I leave my phone behind and make my way to the Doge's Palace which is around the corner. Despite my initial thoughts—that I might meet someone interesting—and I'm more interested in seeing Luca Valizar.
The other guests might see this event as romance, mystery and possibility, but for me this is about making a connection with the host.
And that's what I focus on.
The streets are busy despite the cold, lights reflecting off the water as I make my way towards St. Mark's Square. There's a distinct chill in the air, but the distance is so short that I'm not going wear a coat over this.
I walk past a woman dressed like a peacock. She looks at me. At least I think she does. Her face is covered and I can only see her eyes, but I can’t read her expression.
There are a few adventurous guys who are in full costume, dressed as princes and regents and kings in their noble clothes. Some people have come as clergy members of the Vatican, or priests, or maybe they are real priests.
I stop for a while and put on my mask, tying the satin ribbons behind my head. I have no idea what I look like.
By the time I reach the Doge’s Palace, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m here too early.
Maybe I should have turned up an hour later.
Maybe I should have turned up at ten.
Do I want to be here at all?
My invitation is checked at the entrance, and I follow the other guests inside. The sheer scale of the place is impressive. Soaring ceilings, gilded details, enormous paintings covering the walls. I hear music and laugher amid the noisy chatter.
A server walks around, carrying a tray of champagne flutes. I take a one.
A woman wearing a long, elegant emerald-sequined dress looks at me and raises hers. The man beside her does the same.
I give them a polite nod and move away, sliding a finger between my bow tie and collar.
No matter how richly these people are dressed, everything feels strange.
Eventually, I find a quieter spot away from the crowd and stand there, observing everyone, the champagne untouched in my hand.
I decide to walk around, taking in the atmosphere, looking out for Luca Valizar, but it’s apparent now that I wouldn’t know him even if he walked past me. I look around aimlessly at the sea of sequins, feathers and exquisite masks and costumes.
I can’t see anyone’s faces. How do I even begin to find Luca? No one even knows what he looks like.
Everywhere I look people are in groups or couples. I’m sure I know some of these guests, but it’s hard to tell when their faces are hidden.
I thought this would be interesting—mixing a masked ball with business and having a short stop before visiting Mama, but half an hour later I'm already bored.
I see couples laughing together, touching each other's hands, and I realize that I'm the only one who’s here alone. I begin to doubt the wisdom of coming here all by myself.
I’m here to do business with Luca. That’s my purpose.
But I still don’t feel any better.
Why does being single bother me so much suddenly? I've spent months telling myself it didn't.
I thought Matteo and I were the last holdouts, and now he's met Elizabeth. Mama with her get-togethers is where I felt it most, the lack in my life that's never bothered me as much.
Until recently. Now I clearly see that I’m the only one standing outside that circle.
“Hey.” Someone bumps into me. I turn around. It's a woman.
She has a European accent.
For a few seconds I’m speechless, mesmerized by her outfit. Black and silver sequins cover an elaborate halterneck top and a long, figure-hugging skirt that flares dramatically at her feet. Her midriff is completely bare.
Then I notice the diamonds at her throat, ears and fingers.
Not just diamonds. Serious diamonds.
She’s wealthy.
“Hello.” She has an Austrian accent.
Then she lifts her mask away.
Bright blue eyes meet mine. Perfectly straight nose. Deep red lips.
I nod and force a smile.
“You won't take your mask off?” she asks, her voice dangerous, seductive and sensual.
“I don't see the point of coming to a masked ball maskless.”
She smiles, revealing perfect white teeth. Then she traces her finger along my lapel.
“You are a handsome man,” she purrs. “Very handsome, if a little shy.”
Another blinding smile.
I nod, then take a sip of my champagne. It tastes refreshing, and I savor the bubbles as they go down my throat.
Why me? I wonder.
Because you're alone.
“I'm waiting for someone,” I tell her.
“You can wait. She's not here yet.” She leans forward and takes my champagne glass from me, then takes a long, slow sip.
I have no idea what I'm supposed to say or do.
Dex and Rio would know.
Pre-Dani and Raquel they might even have done something about it.
Me?
I'm not interested, and I don't feel a thing for her. If anything, I'm put off by her values. She doesn't know that I'm here alone and she has no qualms about destroying another person's happiness.
“You look familiar.” She offers my champagne back to me. I decline it.
“I don't think we've ever met,” I reply, looking around for an exit. A flash of yellow catches my eye as a woman passes by and disappears.
I the Austrian woman again, and the old suspicions arise.
Does she know I'm a Knight?
Is that why she's standing in front of me, not put off by the idea that I might be waiting for someone.
“You're very kind,” I say, offering her another polite smile. “But I think I need some air.”