Brian helped Khaat into one of the gondolas and gave the gondoliers instructions in Italian. They smiled as Brian shoved a lot of Euros at each of them, and they nodded. "I'll see you two in a bit," Brian told Jack and Jess.
Since the evening was earlier than the night before, the gondoliers took them on a longer ride, though the most romantic parts of the city, where things were sparkling with the city lights. Khaat curled close to Brian and laid her head on his shoulder, glad to be with him tonight. Italy had a pace all of its own. One Khaat had come to love. She didn't ever want to leave.
"Weekends," Brian said softly, as if he could hear her thoughts. "Any weekend you want, and as many as you want. I promise."
"Even after we catch Tasha?"
"I swear."
"Thank you," she said softly.
"Anything you want," he replied.
The ride was so peaceful that Khaat had almost forgotten any trouble she ever had. It was wonderful. Suddenly, her arm began to sting. She frowned, and she felt Brian straighten up beside her. He looked at her arm. "You're bleeding," he told her. "Somehow she's grazed you from a bit of a distance. Hold still." He put his hand over the wound and healed it with nonverbal magic.
"Thanks, She's not trying very hard," Khaat frowned.
"I think she just missed. It really is very hard to hit a target accurately on a moving boat in the dark," he said. "You were lucky. We should go to the hotel."
"No. I refuse to hide. I'm facing this headon."
"Alright," he sighed, uneasy. His eyes began scanning the canal banks to see if he saw Tasha. He saw no one.