Read Online Out of the Ashes by Lori Dillon - Free Book Online Page B

the exterior. She shifted to allow more sunlight to shine on the cup. Brushing the last layer of dust from its surface revealed an engraved inscription around the rim.
    VIVO DUM VOS HABEO CRASTINUS INCERTUS. Enjoy life while you have it, for tomorrow is uncertain.
    The irony of the words struck Serafina as she traced her finger over the intricate carvings. There had been no tomorrow for the unlucky citizens of Pompeii.
    “Well, well. What have we found here?”
    She didn’t have to look up. Giovanni Ragusa’s deep voice was all too familiar.
    “I should think that would be obvious. It’s a pre-Columbian urinal.”
    She heard him growl behind her. As usual, he did not appreciate her sarcasm.
    He squatted beside her and tried to edge her away with his shoulder.
    “Very funny. Let me see that.”
    Serafina fought the urge to cover the object with her arm like a child hiding a test from a cheating classmate.
    “No, it’s my find. Go dig in your own hole.”
    He sat back on his heels, a look of disdain marring his handsome features.
    “As senior archeologist on this site, this whole damn city is my hole.”
    “I think Signore Moretti would have to disagree with that,” she said, referring to the Director of Excavations.
    “Senior archeologist in charge of this region, then.” Giovanni brushed at the dust on his pants, dust that was ever-present on anyone digging in the ruins. “Which makes me your superior, at least. Now let me see it.”
    Serafina hated when he was right, especially since he never hesitated to point out each and every occasion to her. She slowly stood and stepped back, giving him access to the silver cup.
    Looking down on his dark head, she wondered how she had ever thought he was attractive.
    She took that back. He was handsome—a handsome ass. His good looks and smooth talk had fooled her once, years ago. But she had learned her lesson the hard way, and since then he did nothing but irritate her.
    She watched as he bent to examine the cup. She allowed him this one liberty, but stopped him when he reached to pull it out of the ground.
    “As senior archeologist, you should know procedure by now. The find has to be documented and photographed in place before it’s removed.”
    Giovanni stood, his eyes narrowed to slits as he glared down his hawk-like nose at her.
    “You’re so right. Well, go on, then. Get the camera, and document your find. What’s one small tin cup compared to what I’ve discovered so far?”
    “Only one more that you didn’t find.”
    Serafina turned on her heel and left him standing there.
    How did the man have the ability to get under her skin so? Of course, he had more experience, and as a result, more credited finds, which he never stopped reminding her of. But that was going to change. She would eat dirt before she let him think he was a better archeologist just because he was a man.
    Hurrying to a previously excavated Roman villa now used as a temporary supply building, she grabbed the Brownie camera and a documentation form.
    The excitement of the discovery quickly returned. She had been digging at the Pompeii ruins for three years, and the silver cup was her biggest find so far. Oh, she had done her share of assisting in the excavation of other archeologists’ great finds, but this one was hers. All hers.
    As she returned to her dig site, she saw Giovanni standing over her find with Alfonso Moretti and his assistant, Heberto .
    Apprehension pooled in the pit of her stomach as she approached. The men seemed oblivious to her presence at first. Then Giovanni looked up, an expression of false surprise on his face.
    “Ah, I see you finally showed up with the camera.”
    He snatched the camera from her and prepared to photograph the silver cup.
    “As you can see,” he said to the men as he looked through the viewfinder on the top of the box camera, “from what I’ve unearthed so far, the cup seems to be in perfect condition.”
    Serafina nearly choked.
    “What