“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.
“He would never do that,” I said fiercely.
Nevio looked into my eyes. “You put too much trust in dangerous creatures.”
I raised my eyebrows, but his expression became wary and darker. “Alessio told me you were locked in a cell with Vitiello.”
I rose to my feet and moved toward the bathroom. For some reason, I was reluctant to have this conversation with Nevio. Maybe because Alessio’s words replayed in my head.
I didn’t want to lie to my brother, but I knew I had to.
“Let me draw a bath and get in, then we can talk.”
Nevio stayed in my bedroom while I turned the water on and got undressed. I put a generous amount of bubble bath into the water until a thick layer of foam covered the water surface, then I slipped in, hissing as my skin began to prickle from the heat.
“Greta?”
“I’m fine. You can come in.”
Nevio slipped in and closed the door then he perched on the closed toilet lid, his body angled my way. He leaned his forearms on his thighs, his mouth briefly twitching in what looked like discomfort. I glanced at his bloody arm.
“You should have that treated.”
“Tell me everything he said, everything he did. Don’t leave anything out.”
“He didn’t do anything, Nevio.”
“Let me be the judge,” he said with a hard undertone. “No offense, but you wouldn’t know if he did something.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I’m not a stupid child.”
“No, you aren’t, but your kindness and innocence make you entirely unequipped to deal with someone like Amo Vitiello.”
My brother rarely made me angry. Despite his harsh disposition and crude language, I never got mad at him. But now I could feel myself growing annoyed.
“And what exactly is he?”
Nevio locked eyes with mine. “A hunter in more than one regard.”
I tried to figure out what he meant but that was apparently enough to convince Nevio of the truth of his words. “See, you don’t even know what I mean.”
It finally clicked. “You mean he pursues women?”
Nevio laughed darkly.
I couldn’t see what it mattered. “You do too.”
“I’m not bound to marry.”
My stomach clenched. “Marry?”
“This summer.”
I hoped my face didn’t give away how confused I was. Why had Amo lied? He’d said he wasn’t promised, but if he married so soon, he must be engaged. I wasn’t sure why the idea made me upset. Amo’s relationship status shouldn’t be my concern.
When I realized Nevio was watching me, I said matter-of-factly, “Then you have even less reason to be worried. If he’s in love, he’ll hardly make any advances on me.”
“Love,” Nevio scoffed. He shook his head and stared down at his injured arm as if he considered cutting it off. He began loosening the leather cuff with more force than was required. “He doesn’t love her. It’s an arranged marriage.”
I was still mulling over Amo’s lie, which was probably why I forgot to lie at Nevio’s next question.
“So he kept his distance?”
“He gave me his shirt so I wouldn’t freeze.”