Page 74 of Of Love and Treason
Bea’s dark eyes glistened. “I love you, my boy.” She released him, though the look on her face said every bone in her body protested. “God go with you.”
The street behind the market apartments was quiet and none of the people in it appeared to be soldiers. Since the Markets of Trajan abutted the Servian Wall, when Valens left through the back exit, he was already outside of the main city. Sticking to the familiar back roads and alleyways, he reached the small kitchen door of the Calogarus household—distraction-free for once.
Phoebe let him in, then shut and barred the door. “We’ve been praying for you since the jailor came and told us everything.” She crossed the kitchen toward the courtyard door. “Master Marius will be glad to see you free and well.”
So Iris and Quintus had gone to the meeting after all. Good. He hoped they’d come again.
He made it halfway across the courtyard before Cato tackled him in a hug.
“Thank God you’re alive.”
Valens chuckled. “So far.” He sobered and dug the contract fromthe bottom of his bag. “I have to go into hiding. Could you see that Danius and Emilia receive this?”
Cato lifted both hands and backed away. “What are you talking about?”
Valens lowered his voice. “The Praetorians know I’m writing the contracts. But the investigator doesn’t have proof, so he gave me time to depart before they find it.”
Cato crossed his arms, still refusing to touch the document. “Why would he do that?”
“Valens! Thank God you’re all right.” Marius winced with every step down the marble walkway, arms open to Valens.
“He’s a friend to Quintus and Iris,” Valens explained to Cato as he hugged the old man. “But he won’t let me off a second time.” He waved the contract toward Cato. “Will you?”
“What’s going on?” Marius asked, looking between the two.
Cato took the contract and held it between two fingers, shaking his head. “Why were you arrested if they didn’t have proof?”
“Grandfather arranged it.” Valens sighed. “It’s a long story.”
“Are you in trouble?” Marius asked.
Cato turned to his father. “He has to go into hiding.”
Valens lifted the strap of his bag and rubbed his shoulder.
“Were you followed here?” Marius asked, shifting his gaze back to Valens.
Valens shrugged. “Not that I saw.”
Marius nodded. “Then it’s settled. You’ll stay with us.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Valens glanced at Cato, still holding the contract as if it were a dead rat rolled in horse dung. “I can’t risk endangering you all.”
“It won’t be the first time we’ve hidden someone.” Marius looked between the two and frowned at the secrets they were obviously withholding. He crossed his arms, waiting for an answer, an explanation. Valens shut his eyes. Should he open the circle of treason participants to include another?
Cato huffed out a breath. “Pater, Val is The Cupid.”
As Valens met Marius’s serious gaze, the old man seemedthoughtful but unsurprised. He nodded once. “Were you followed?” he asked again.
Again, Valens shrugged. He’d been watching. He didn’t think so.
Marius’s tone left no room for argument. “Then you’ll stay here.”
XXXII
IRIS METBEATRIXas she lowered the awning over her locked door.
Beatrix grinned when she saw Iris. “Ah! Perfect timing!” She tied down the last corner of the pink-and-orange-striped awning and straightened. “What have you got there?”
