could not find out about Antonius, under any circumstances. None of the prostitutes would say a word — they were too scared of her — but Jovina was a different kettle of fish. Despite her sale of the brothel, and her illness, not all of her fight was gone. She would try to use the information as leverage. Fabiola knew it. That couldn't happen.
The doormen wouldn't turn down another dirty job.
A hand grabbed one of Fabiola's breasts, dragging her thoughts back to the present.
First Antonius had to leave. As it turned out, Antonius was incapable of much. Once Fabiola had put a glass of wine in his hand and placed the table between them, he collapsed into a chair and began an incoherent ramble about the latest goings-on in the Senate. Fabiola carefully encouraged him, all the while watching his body language. It wasn't long before Antonius' voice died away, and his head fell on his chest. Fabiola didn't move a muscle. Even when he started to snore, she didn't stir.
Finally, she judged it safe to move. Opening the door, she found Vettius just outside. Benignus was waiting with him. There was no sign of Jovina or any of the guards. Still she didn't register that Brutus had arrived without any protection of his own, something no one in his right mind would do at this hour.
'Safe to move Memor now?' Vettius asked.
'Yes. The fool's asleep.' She took a deep breath. 'There's something else I need you to do.'
They looked at her questioningly.
'Jovina.'
Vettius' brow wrinkled. 'What about her?'
'She's got to go.'
At first, neither man understood. Then they saw how serious Fabiola was, and their jaws dropped in unison. 'Kill her?' Benignus breathed.
Fabiola nodded.
'But she's so old,' he faltered.
'Jovina's a snake in the grass,' Fabiola hissed. 'You both know that. She'll tell Brutus about Antonius.'
They didn't argue any further. Their mistress knew best, and it wasn't as if either cared for Jovina in any way. 'When?' queried Vettius.
'Tonight,' instructed Fabiola. 'Get rid of Memor first, though. Now.'
They hurried off to do her bidding. Fabiola remained by the door to her office, listening for any signs of Antonius wakening. She was pleased to hear only snores.
Soon the doormen reappeared, carrying the bundled-up blanket between them. Fabiola had already slipped the bolts on the front door and pulled it open. 'Be quick,' she urged.
They hurried towards her.
From Fabiola's office came the distinctive sound of a glass breaking on the floor.
Like murderers caught in the act, Vettius and Benignus froze.
'Outside,' whispered Fabiola frantically.
'Fabiola?' Antonius' voice was sleepy but truculent. 'Where in Hades have you gone?'
The pair of slaves had half made it out of the doorway when Antonius emerged, rubbing his reddened eyes. Pushing Vettius outside, Fabiola flashed her most brilliant smile. 'You've woken up,' she trilled. 'I was just going to get a blanket for you.'
Perhaps it was Antonius' military training, or her guilty manner, but all signs of drunkenness dropped away from him. 'Vulcan's prick! Was that a body?'
For once, Fabiola was at a loss for words.
In a heartbeat, Antonius was by her side. Pulling wide the door, he stared at the two doormen who were spotlit by the torches on either side of the entrance. Like most slaves in such a situation, their feet were rooted to the spot. 'What have you got there?' Antonius barked.
There was a pregnant pause.
'Answer me!'
'Nothing, sir,' ventured Benignus. 'An old blanket.'
Antonius whirled around to Fabiola. 'Was someone killed here tonight?'
Fabiola struggled not to break down in front of him. Today was proving to be the worst day of her life. Could things get any worse? 'Yes,' she muttered.
'Who?'
'Nobody. A lowlife who started roughing up one of the girls. He killed my servant as well.' Fabiola's grief over Docilosa surged up, out of control. 'He deserved to die,' she snarled. 'Like anyone who crosses me,' she added in a whisper.
'What did you say?'
Panicking, Fabiola looked away. 'Nothing.'
If Antonius had heard her final words, he chose to ignore them for the moment. 'Whose body is it? Tell me!'
Fabiola quailed at his fierce expression. 'Memor, the lanista.'
Antonius' eyes widened. 'An important man. I see your need for secrecy. So you waited until there was no one about, and then ordered your goons to get rid of the evidence. Clever. Except I saw it.'
Fabiola didn't answer.
Antonius turned back to the doormen. 'Go on, piss off.'
They goggled at him.
He raised a fist. 'Beat it!'
Unable to believe their good luck, the pair hoisted their burden and disappeared into the darkness.
Fabiola exhaled slowly, knowing that the danger wasn't over yet.
Pushing her before him, Antonius shut the door. The bolts slid home with an ominous sound. Straightening, he looked at Fabiola with new respect. 'Quite the siren, aren't you? Who'd have thought it?' he said softly. 'Come too close, and you'll end up shipwrecked. Or dumped in a sewer.' He laughed at his own joke. 'Should I be worried? After all, it's not as if I've never knocked a woman about.'
Fabiola began to feel afraid. Antonius was a big, powerful man. He could kill her with ease, and there was no one about to stop him. She backed away, but he followed and grabbed her by both arms.
'A word in your ear.'
Terrified now, Fabiola bent towards him.
'Before getting any ideas, you should know something. Your little quarrel with Scaevola is no secret to me.' He smiled at her surprise. 'Been wondering why things have quietened down on that front? It's because I told him to back off.'
Fabiola looked at Antonius, dumbstruck. That's why he'd had no guards with him.
'The fugitivarius knows that I'd kill him if he touched a woman I was fucking,' Antonius confided amiably. His expression hardened. 'But if I was tired of her and thought she had ideas far above her station? He'd bite my hand off to be slipped from the leash!'
He did hear what I'd said, thought Fabiola. She could hardly breathe. Mithras, she prayed. Help me. There was no response, and her hopes fell away into a dark abyss from which there was no return. She was unsurprised. This was her punishment for all that she had done. In that instant, Fabiola knew also that she didn't want to die. Not like this.
Antonius took her by the throat and squeezed. His blue eyes glittered cruelly, mocking Fabiola for her weakness. 'Or I could just strangle you myself.'
Choking, she began to lose consciousness.
Abruptly Antonius relaxed his grip, and Fabiola staggered away. Feeling like a mouse injured by a cat, she waited to see what he'd do next.
'I'd rather fuck you,' he ordered. 'Find a bed.'
Numbly, Fabiola led him away.
Docilosa had been right all along. Why hadn't she listened? If she had, her servant would still be alive instead of lying cold on a table in the kitchen.
Antonius groped at Fabiola's crotch, revolting her. Yet she made no effort to stop him.
This was her lot. Seeing the priestess being thrown out of the Lupanar thoroughly confused Tarquinius. The guards looked most unhappy as their huge companion roughly pushed her away from the entrance. They quailed
