Nevio’s head swiveled toward me and for the briefest moment, his eyes held a look he only directed at others. The moonlight was cruel tonight, revealing the truth I’d rather not see. Bear let out a low growl behind me. Goosebumps slithered along my skin.
A smile broke on Nevio’s face. It wasn’t quite the smile he wore during the day but it came close enough to make me relax. “Late night ballet again?”
I nodded and tiptoed toward them. Bear was close behind me, his claws clicking on the hardwood floor.
Massimo lay stretched out on the floor, cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth and his eyes following my dog. “Haven’t you gotten rid of that psychotic beast yet?”
I sank down between Nevio’s legs and he wrapped an arm around me. Bear’s fangs flashed.
“One of these days that dog is going to take your face off,” Massimo muttered.
Nevio leaned forward and stared straight into Bear’s eyes. At first, Bear’s growls grew in volume but then he stopped, tugged his tail between his hind legs and trotted into a corner of the room.
Alessio laughed darkly and took a deep drag from his cigarette. Beneath the scent of smoke lingered the subtle note of blood. The windows were open so I knew it had to be bad.
Nevio grinned. “Good choice, dog. I’ve taken off more faces than you.”
“That’s not funny,” I said softly.
“He wasn’t joking,” Alessio said.
Nevio rested his chin on top of my head. “Why do you save these deranged creatures?”
“For the same reason she bothers with us,” Massimo said as he held out his cigarette to me but I shook my head.
“One of these days we’ll lure you to the dark side,” he said with a shrug.
Alessio put his head down on my shins. “You overestimate our powers.”
Nevio shook his head with a chuckle. “Don’t listen to these assholes. Stay where you are. You belong in the light.”
My fingers slid over my tutu. “I belong with the people I love. I don’t fear the dark.”
Many people thought I couldn’t handle much because I was petite and quiet. It was true I got easily overwhelmed in certain situations, especially if I was surrounded by people I didn’t know, but my family’s darkness wasn’t one of the things that triggered my anxiety. Neither had Amo’s.
I banished any memory of him from my mind, worried Nevio might pick up on my treacherous thoughts.
“Happy birthday, by the way,” Nevio murmured.
“Happy birthday to you too,” I said with a small smile. “Your present is up in my room. I didn’t think I’d see you tonight. It’s early for you to be back.”
Alessio nudged my shin. “Things got out of hand for birthday boy. Happy birthday, Greta.”
“Happy birthday,” Massimo said.
Nevio motioned at a simple cardboard box in the corner that I hadn’t noticed before. “There’s your birthday present from all of us.”
I searched their expressions to a hint of what was in there. Bear had gone over to the box and was sniffing at it curiously, which increased my wariness. I pushed to my feet and cautiously approached the box. I slanted them a look. “There’s nothing cut off in there, right?”
They chuckled, but they had played that kind of prank on Mom and Kiara before. It hadn’t gone over well. Usually they acted more considerate around me, but I still thought caution wasn’t unwarranted.
Nevio shoved to his feet as well and came over to me. “No body parts, promise.”
I squatted down and opened the box, my eyes growing wide at what was inside. Two bunnies. One of them was a lop-eared breed, the other had longer hair, which was mostly matted. They cowered in the box, pressed up to each other, their noses moving quickly and moist, because of their stress level.
“Where did you get them?”
“It was coincidence,” Alessio said, as he sat up. “The guy we paid a visit to tonight had them. They were obviously meant as snake food. The one with the hanging ears sat in the snake terrarium. The other was in a tiny cage that didn’t even allow it to lie down.”
My heart clenched as I peered down at the neglected animals. Bear sniffed at them.
“Back,” I ordered. I didn’t want to add to their stress level, which was why I didn’t try to pet them. They wouldn’t have appreciated it.
“Nevio saved the brown bunny from the snake pit.”
I smiled up at my brother. He shrugged. “You don’t want any bought gifts, so this is the best we could do.”