Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 136915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Nino held Dad by the shoulder, and murmured something in his ear. Dad motioned me forward and I went over to him immediately. Dad cupped my chin, his eyes so intense I had trouble returning his gaze.
“I’m fine, Dad, only cold,” I said with a reassuring smile.
He gave a nod. Then he looked over my head. “You can leave.”
“I wasn’t asking for your permission,” Luca Vitiello said.
Dad’s expression sent a shiver down my back. I touched his chest and his gaze found me.
Nino stepped forward. “We should continue our meeting tomorrow, once we’ve all calmed down.”
Amo laughed, but it was a very different laugh from the ones I’d heard in the basement. It was harsh and derisive. “And you think that’ll be the case tomorrow?”
“You need peace more than we do,” Dad growled.
I lowered my gaze, trying not to let my anxiety get the better of me. It was too loud in here and all the people, their movements, scents and voices sent my mind whirling. I longed to be back in the basement.
I focused on the marble beneath my ballet flats, its firmness, solidity, cold. I breathed in very slowly and let my breath out at an even slower pace.
2. 5. 7. 15. 25. 55. 75.
Once I’d repeated my favorite numbers in my head, I felt calmer.
“Mia cara?” Dad’s quiet voice filtered through the whooshing in my head. I peered up, realizing that we were alone. He touched my cheek. “You’re cold. Take a hot bath.”
“Momo’s missing.”
Dad’s mouth tightened with disapproval. He didn’t like Momo very much. Though that had less to do with Momo and more with the fact that Dad disliked many things, humans and animals alike.
“If we haven’t found him by the time you’re done taking your bath, you can join in the search, but now I want you to warm up.”
If Dad demanded something, I knew he wouldn’t budge. I nodded. “Where are Nevio and Massimo?”
Usually, my brother stuck to my side, especially in situations like this. That he wasn’t here meant Dad had ordered him to stay away. Probably because of Amo, if Alessio was right.
“Helping your Mom wrangle Giulio into submission until I have time to talk to him.”
“Did he trigger the alarm?”
“Who else?” Savio muttered as he returned to the common room, followed by Alessio and Nino. I assumed they’d let out Amo and his father. I felt a pang when I realized I hadn’t even said goodbye to Amo. Would he return tomorrow?
I felt myself wishing for it.
Savio smirked. “Now that Nevio goes bump in the night, Giulio took over his spot as the residual trouble maker.”
“He’s only six. He’s not always going to cause trouble,” I said, feeling protective of my little brother.
“Take a bath now. We’ll look for the dog,” Dad said.
“Which one?” Savio asked. “If I have to look for that ugly beast, I’m not wearing my new Balenciaga sneakers.”
“He’ll go for your throat not your sneakers,” Alessio said, one corner of his mouth edging up.
“It’s not Bear, it’s Momo.”
“You should have never allowed her to bring the beasts into the house,” Savio said.
“I didn’t,” Dad said with a reproachful look at me.
“Momo was in the studio with me, and Bear’s locked in my room.”
“That he is. Nice surprise when I tried to check on you,” Nevio drawled as he stalked into the room. His left forearm was covered in blood but because he wore leather wrist cuffs, I couldn’t see the extent of his injuries. In three long strides, he was in front of me. Our eyes locked.
“You didn’t kill him, did you?” I whispered, my voice trembling.
“That dog tried to rip him to shreds and you worry about a rabid beast,” Alessio muttered.
I ignored the remark. Nevio knew that I’d die if something happened to him, but Nevio was Nevio, and even Bear couldn’t stand a chance against him.
“I only hurt it enough to get it off me,” he said quietly. I knew what Nevio was, knew he didn’t need much incentive to kill. That he didn’t kill Bear though he’d attacked him was only because of me. Sometimes it felt as if I was holding Nevio’s darkness by the leash and if I ever let go…I didn’t want to think about it.
He took my hand. “Come.” He pulled me along.
“Momo,” I said over my shoulder.
“We’ll find it,” Dad said.
Nevio didn’t slow, pulling me upstairs and into my room. My eyes fell on Bear who lay beside the bed. Nevio had bound his leash to the bed post. His tail began wagging when he spotted me. I went over to him and rubbed his maw like he loved.
“If that thing ever as much as growls at you, I’ll kill it, no matter what you say,” Nevio said, coming to a stop beside me. Bear stopped wagging and peered up at my brother but didn’t react otherwise. Whatever Nevio had done, had intimidated Bear for the time being.