“I’m fine. Lounging in the office?” I questioned.
“Your brother had some good news he had come to share with us.” Our father nodded to him, and the pair stood. I looked between the two. They looked so alike, both men of the same gene pool, frozen in time. In time, I too, would have my heart stop on my twenty-seventh birthday and join my family in vampirism. As did my siblings. But to see my older brother with red eyes and fangs, standing next to my dad who had always looked like that, was disheartening.
Did it have to be this way?
Was there a way to stay human?
To be with Scout?
“What’s the good news?” I crossed my arms and forced a smile. I hated Gianni, just as much as he hated me. I didn’t give two fucks about his news. But I needed his help, so I pretended to be interested.
“Gloria is pregnant.”
“Pregnant? As in…” I struggled to even consider my brother becoming a father.
“As in a new bat baby into the Amato family!” Dad boasted! “Come, have a drink with us, Desiderio, and celebrate your brother’s news!”
“Where is your wife?” I stepped forward as he reached for a glass on his bar and poured me a drink.
“Resting. She’s been sick,” my brother explained. I sipped the bourbon and faked enthusiasm for my brother’s future child. My niece or nephew. What a thought. After an appropriate amount of time, I sat my drink down.
“Gianni, could I have you help me with something?” His expression darkened. However, he knew he couldn’t say no in front of our parents, so he followed me outside. I went straight to my trunk and opened it. We peered down at it, and he whistled when he saw the contents.
“When was this?” he asked.
“Early afternoon. I needed a favor.” I gulped.
“It’s a big one. I didn’t have my first until after I was already dead.”
“Really?” I was surprised at that, as my brother was much colder than I was.
“Really,” he confirmed. “Congratulations, I suppose. Cutting your fangs early.”
“I’m not going to—” I grimaced at the thought.
Gianni snickered. “What a waste. His blood is poison now.”
“Okay, so now what? What the fuck am I supposed to do with him?”
I hissed and pointed to the dead guy in my trunk. Gianni reached for the handle and slammed it shut, nearly catching my fingers.
“Welcome to the family, baby brother.” He turned and started up the stairs, and without looking back, he added, “Figure it out.”
