“Shit, he’s right,” Nico said, glancing at his watch. “I guess we should go see exactly what Donatello has planned for that bitch.”
“Ugh. I wish we could stay out here. Do we have to go back to reality?” I asked, stretching languidly on the grass.
“Unfortunately, we do. Come on.” He reached down and helped me up.
I trudged back through the woods with him. Maybe we’d get lucky, and Donatello would have something really good planned. Maybe some big protest in D.C. with celebrities. Anything that could get this thing turned around. Maybe he’d found a way to release those videos. He’d have to be careful about it. Otherwise, he’d have his neck on Viola’s chopping block the same way we did.
107
NICO
By the time we got in the house, the living room was packed. Luis must have called everyone over to watch the news. Mom and Dad sat together in the loveseat. My brothers were all spread across the sofa. Felipe stood behind the couch, looking apprehensive. Abi and Maddy’s parents sat at the kitchen table, staring at the TV in rapt silence. Gabriella was sitting cross-legged on the rug in front of the couch along with Sinthy. If things weren’t so screwed up with the world, you’d think we were all here for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner or something.
The news channel Luis had set the TV to was currently running a commercial. Once Maddy and I came in, Mateo and Rafael got up to give us their seats on the couch. We’d just gotten settled when the theme music for the nightly news blared through the speaker.
On screen a middle-aged female reporter greeted the audience. “Good evening. I’m Rochelle Carmichael, and this is World News Today. We start our program with a report of the viral support the shifter community has received over the last few days. Actors like Reese Lloyd, along with professionalathletes like Brandon Tulloch and musicians like Marion Drudge, have all come out in support of the shifters. They’ve railed against the treatment of these citizens and are calling for an end to the mandated FEMA testing and containment centers.
“The celebrity outcry has helped fuel protests around the country among the average citizens. The tides seem to be turning. Only a few days ago, it looked as though everyone was in agreement that the quarantine of this portion of our country was necessary for safety. Now things are changing. Along with the well-known celebrities, other philanthropists have come forward to show their support. That brings me to tonight’s special guest. Many will not know his name, but they surely know him by his many business holdings. Welcome, Mr. Donatello Moretti.”
A collective gasp sounded through the living room. My own jaw fell open. When the camera angle changed, Donatello’s calm and collected smile greeted us. He was actually on the news. I’d never expected that he’d put his own life on the line like this. It had been my assumption that he’d continue working in the shadows.
“Holy shit,” Luis muttered, echoing my thoughts.
“Mr. Moretti,” the reporter went on. “Thank you so much for joining us.”
Donatello waved her thanks away. “It’s a pleasure to be here, Rochelle.”
“Well, you are well-known in financial areas. You manage three different hedge funds. You also have holdings in the military-industrial complex, nanotechnology, and advanced science research companies. But what many don’t know is the massive yearly donations you contribute to charity. The United Way, The Red Cross, and Saint Jude’s Research Hospital, to name just a few.”
“I prefer to keep my name out of those areas. Those foundations deserve my monetary assistance to help those in need. My name is unnecessary to their daily functions.”
The reporter lifted her eyebrows in surprise. “Most people of your means like to see their names in the paper. You’ve kept a very low profile over the years. In fact, our team couldn’t find asingleinterview or video clip of you. Why come forward now?”
“Fantastic question, Rochelle. I’d love to start by discussing the unfair treatment of our shifter neighbors.”
“You disagree with the containment and testing centers?”
Donatello sighed and gave the reporter an irritated smile. “Disagree? That’s putting it mildly, I would say. Words with a bit more venom might be: disgusted, horrified, or heartbroken. This is a fear tactic, nothing more. Innocent people are paying the price for this.”
“But don’t the videos of feral shifters give you pause? This disease is still new, and we know very little. Can the government really allow the shifter population to remain unchecked when any of them, at any time, could go feral?”
Donatello shrugged and looked wholly at ease. I couldn’t even tell he was on the news being watched by millions of people. He looked the same as when we’d been sitting in his smoking room having cocktails a few weeks ago. He cocked an eyebrow at the reporter. “I’m glad you asked that. It brings me to the real reason I’m here tonight. What the nation and the world need to know is that our shifter friends are not going feral, and there is no disease. That story is nothing but a coverup.”
The reporter frowned and glanced somewhere off-camera before turning her gaze back to Donatello. “Mr. Moretti, I don’t think I understand. You’re saying that?—”
“That everything you’ve heard is a lie. The shifters aren’t sick. They’re being poisoned.”
“Poisoned?” the reporter sounded like she was having a hard time believing what he was saying.
I could feel the butterflies in my stomach fluttering like crazy. Donatello was doing it. On live fucking TV. Viola had to be watching this. “Shuffle the deck, my ass,” I murmured.
“What?” Maddy asked, looking at me.
I shook my head. “Nothing. Let’s see what he does next.”
“The crazy son of a bitch,” Luis said with half a laugh on his voice.
“Crazy, for sure. Viola’s going to want his head on a platter after this,” I said.
