The Broken Angel by Monica La Porta

Martina’s body become tense behind him.
    “My family owns all the right people in all the right places.” Giulio’s tone had changed into a singsong, and his eyes were glazed over.
    Martina had stepped beside Samuel. “Your family’s reach has limits too.”
    Meanwhile, the janitor was talking on the phone.
    Something clicked in Samuel’s mind and he remembered why Giulio’s last name had sounded familiar. The Severis were deeply involved with Quintilius’s business. The news was troubling, but gave Samuel an idea of how to deal with the coward before him. He leaned even closer to Giulio. “If you don’t leave right away, I’ll contact the Roman Chronicles and I’ll tell them how you came here to rape your ex-wife and how you tried to hit a cripple.” Quintilius liked to keep a low profile and he was known only to trust his interests in the hands of people who were above reproach.
    Samuel’s threat seemed to work as Giulio’s eyes focused on him, a fearful expression growing on his hateful face. “Listen to me carefully. I’ll drag you down in a scandal so large your family will disown you.” He stopped a moment before saying, “ Your family will throw you to the wolves.” As far as he knew, the Severis only dealt with the human side of Quintilius’s many businesses, but just in case Giulio—who clearly consumed vampire blood—was familiar with the paranormal world, Samuel didn’t want to reveal he was part of it.
    “The police are coming.” The janitor raised the broom again and brandished it in Giulio’s general direction.
    “Scram.” Samuel gave Giulio’s arm one last squeeze, then let him free.
    Giulio looked around, his movements less sharp than a moment earlier. Samuel surmised the effects of the vampire blood were lessening and Giulio, a mere human, would crash soon. From outside the window, the blaring noise of the police’s siren echoed into Martina’s office, startling the man out of his daze.
    “It doesn’t end here.” Giulio staggered on his feet, pushed aside Martina, then shoved off the janitor who valiantly tried to stop him, and ran out of the room.
    Samuel wasted no time. He grabbed Martina’s hand, hurriedly thanked the janitor for his help, and exited the room. He didn’t stop until they reached the exit to the flight of stairs leading to the rear entrance of the building. Only when they were outside did he come to a halt and take a moment to look at her.
    “How are you?”
    Martina’s eyes were moist with tears, but she took a deep breath and blinked them away.
    He stepped back to put her at arm’s length. “Did he—?”
    She seemed to shrink at his question, and for a moment, he feared the worst, then she shook her head.
    He let out the breath he was holding and limited himself to grab her hand, instead of acting upon his growing desire to take her in his arms and kiss her troubles away. “Where do you want to go?”
    “I have nowhere to go.” Martina’s composure crumbled before his eyes and she started sobbing. “I need to shower and change, but I don’t want to stay at my apartment.”
    “Come here.” He pulled her to him and guided her head to the crook between his shoulder and throat. “We’ll go to your place first, then I’ll drive you back to mine. Once there, we’ll decide what to do. Is it okay?”
    For a long moment, she shook in his embrace, her chest raising and falling sharply, then she nodded.
    ****
    The moment Martina stepped back inside Samuel’s apartment, she experienced a sense of belonging she hadn’t felt in a long time. But most of all, she knew she was safe.
    “Care for a cup of coffee or tea?” He had moved to the kitchen and was holding a moka in one hand, and a teapot in the other, dangling them by their handles.
    “Tea, please.” She couldn’t help but stare at him.
    Back at the office, there had been a déjà vu moment when he had looked bigger, taller, and deadly. Now, navigating between the countertop and the