Page 1 of Venice

Chapter One

Marcello

The coffee shop is dark before the brilliant dawn sun breaks the horizon. It’s the only time Venice’s Piazza San Marco isn’t choked with tourists.

My packmates and I lounge in our favorite coffee shop where dark red brick walls are lined with famous Italian drawings. We recline together on the soft brocade sofa in the back, our usual spot for morning caffè.

Luca is reading the newspaper, old fashioned to the end. Emilio and I browse our phones.

Luca slams the newspaper down on the table, sloshing our coffees. I grab mine and cradle it protectively against my chest before raising my thick eyebrows at him.

His hazel eyes flash with anger. “The Bevans are coming to town. Finally, we have a chance to kill them.”

Emilio places a calming hand on Luca’s shoulder. “We’re not killing anyone.” He glances at me, and the unspoken phrase ‘so dramatic’ passes between us.

Holding my coffee possessively, I reach for the paper with my other hand. Luca was looking the entertainment section, and I read aloud for Emilio to hear.

“Circus After Dark arrives in Venice today for three shows at the Italia Theatre in Cannaregio. Among the talented performers, most hailing from Distant Edge, California is the circus founder Iphigenia Holt who will be performing on silks. Several other performers include Sophia Jackson on rope, world renowned contortionist Willow Bell, and Diva Bevan on single point trapeze.” I glare at Luca and force myself not to roll my eyes.

Emilio, the diplomatic beta, states what I’m thinking but in a much kinder way. “That’s not the Bevan family, it’s just their daughter. She has nothing to do with the family business.”

“Obviously.” I am unable to contain myself. “Otherwise, she wouldn’t be performing in a traveling circus for twenty euro a week.”

Emilio holds his hand out for the paper, and I hand it over. His eyes mist over when he sees a photo of her. He glances at me. “She’s stunning.”

Luca growls loudly, and the server who was approaching to refill our cups turns quickly and scurries away. Damn him. I’m the alpha leader of our pack, no matter how often he throws his dominant nature around.

“Stunning or not . . .” I keep my voice even. “She may lead us to the rest of her family.”

The three of us exchange looks, and Emilio looks down at her photo again. He’s right. She’s a knockout, but so what? We have our pick of knockouts any night of the week. He looks up a moment later and sighs deeply. “It may be in our job description, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“Being bounty hunters isn’t always fun and games,” Luca says without a hint of a smile.

I bark a laugh. “For you it is.”

He doesn’t take the bait. “I’d rather neglect another assignment and deal with them first. If word gets out that we’ve put an end to their fascist werewolf registry, we will get more work.”

“Plus, annihilate the idea of chipping so we can keep co-existing among humans, as we’ve been doing for years,” I add.

Luca runs a hand through his dark spiked hair. “And it won’t interrupt our extra-curricular activities.”

He’s right. If word gets out about what we truly are, in this climate of discrimination and hate, we’ll be forced to leave Venice and forge a new life in another part of Italy—or worse, another part of Europe. But Venice is our home. And since it’s the port most tourists visit, and after a few days leave, there’s always a fresh, ripe berry to be plucked. No time for boredom or attachment.

Luca folds the paper. “It’s decided, then. We’ll kidnap the girl and force her parents to cease and desist.”

Emilio and I exchange glances. He shrugs and nods, but I prickle. Even though Luca’s right, he must stop acting like the alpha. If he keeps it up, I’ll be forced to put him in his place again.

I sit back to mull over the fact that our paws are being forced by the Bevans. If Diva affords us the opportunity to protect our entire species, we must take her.

Chapter Two

Diva

Standing on the crowded streets of Venice, Italy, my head swivels looking for a quiet place to hide. But there isn’t one. I hate it here, but I won’t let my prejudice ruin it for the rest of the troupe.

“We have time to explore?” squeals Sophia.

“Yes,” says Iphigenia, our interim house manager and the founder of Circus After Dark. “Our performance doesn’t start for hours, but let’s meet back at the theater by six o’clock so we can be ready. Deal?”

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