Chapter 10
Venice, Italy
Marco
A FEW MINUTES before eight, we strolled down the staircase and found the ever-present Paolo waiting for us. He directed us through a doorway that opened into the dining room. We entered the baroque room just as my father entered it from another door with a stunning woman on his arm. She had raven black hair, a perfect figure, and was considerably south of forty.
“Ah,” Father said, “just in time. Carla, my dear, may I present my son Marco and his partner Danilo. Gentlemen, this gorgeous creature is Carla Rossi, a dear friend of mine who has come all the way from Naples to visit.”
We shook hands with Carla and stood there talking until my father looked closely at the huge table, which was capable of seating twenty, and then at a servant hovering in the doo
