“—I just wish I could do something to give you a shot at what you’ve always wanted. You wouldn’t screw it up.”
Aldanto turned his eyes on him. Pulled a wry face and shook his head.
That strange look lasted only a second—then Aldanto was back to his old self.
“One more thing,” he continued, pulling his interrupted dinner back towards him, and toying with the bread. “You’ve been granted two ways to prove you’ve learned your lessons and to pay me back for the trouble you caused. One—to find out what’s going on at Ventuccio. Two—to become my channel into Dorma and the Accademia, to be my eyes and ears and keep me informed. You know what kind of information I’m likely to find interesting. So—”
“Don’t blow it,” Marco completed for him, still a little bemused by the turn in his fortunes.
Caesare actually chuckled. “Right,” he said, resuming his meal.
“Caesare—would it be all right if I wrote to my grandfather and told him about going to the Accademia, do you think?” Marco asked hesitantly, as he shoved his chair away from the table and prepared to leave.
Aldanto considered the possible ramifications for a moment; Marco could almost see the thoughts behind the eyes. “I can’t see where it could do any harm,” he finally replied. “It might ease his mind about you. Go ahead.”
Marco hesitated at the doorway. “Thank you,” he said shyly, feeling that he was likely to be glowing with gratitude and happiness.
“For what?” Caesare asked, weary, but amused. “Oh, go on, Marco. If you’re not hungry, go and read, or to bed. Get out of here—you keep reminding me of how old and corrupt I am.”
Marco bobbed his head awkwardly and scooted back to the room he shared with Benito. The kid wasn’t back from his mysterious errand with Maria—but Marco wasn’t overly worried about him. This wasn’t the first time he’d been out on a night-run with Maria. It was no doubt dangerous—but less so than roof-walking with his old mentor Claudia, the singer-thief. And possibly even less dangerous than what Marco was going to attempt.
So Marco undressed and climbed into bed—and