Page 9 of Feeding Hope
“Aria’s got a bright future. She’s damn good. Alyssa has applied to a full-time dance academy. If she gets in...”
Tony’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head. “In state?”
“No. Aria’s heading to an exclusive ski school in Vermont. Alyssa wants one in New York. If they get in, it’s the first time they’ve ever been separated.”
Tony looked stunned. “Who else knows this?”
“Me, you, Uncle Gunner, Aunt Autumn, Mama Phoe and Dad. It’s top secret. Do you blame them for wanting to escape? They’re both so talented. I’m jealous,” I replied.
“That’s why you want to leave?”
“No. Sure, I’ll miss them, but you’ve seen them. To ignore that talent is a crime. I need to leave because of Dante. He won’t stop making life a misery, and when he comes for me, he hurts everybody else. Dante doesn’t give a shit. Bro, you can’t tell me that if I left, he wouldn’t throw a party. You know he would.”
Tony looked away, and I knew he couldn’t and wouldn’t deny that. Everyone in the house understood Dante’s hate for me. Honestly, I couldn’t decide whether it was because I stood up to him or because I was female. But where that type of misogyny came from, I’d no idea. Dad certainly didn’t treat Mama Phoe like that. She’d squash Dad if he did.
“Eddie, you can’t leave me,” Tony said, and there was the guilt trip. People didn’t realise Tony was the older twin. But he preferred peace and quiet, so everybody often believed I was.
“No, but imagine three more years living with Dante? That’s too much,” I replied softly.
“Then I’ll come too, wherever you’re going,” Tony stated instantly.
“Dante doesn’t have an issue with you.”
“Yeah, he does. If he has with you, then he does with me, too.”
I smiled slightly and leaned into Dante’s side, and my brother wrapped an arm around me. “Twins forever?”
“Until death do us part,” Tony quipped, and I laughed. Yup, something like that.
Phoe
“What?” I demanded, shocked, as Eddie and Tony sat calmly in front of me.
“Attend boarding school for the last three years until we head off to college,” Eddie said calmly. Drake went rigid beside me as I wondered what the hell had happened.
“I…what?” I struggled for words.
Eddie seemed to understand that. “Mama Phoe, it’s not that we don’t love you or that we’re not grateful. We are. Very much so. You have given Tony and me so many opportunities, and we’re blessed. We love you both lots. But neither of us feels partof the family now. Dante has made it very clear what he thinks, and that’s damn hurtful and undeserved. Sure, I’ve often kicked his ass; maybe Dante’s resentment comes from that. But I don’t want to live under the same roof as him.”
“If Eddie isn’t welcome, then I’m not either. Dante’s comments struck at everyone who was adopted. Scout, Timmy, Garrett, and Jake also have concerns. It doesn’t matter how they’re dealt with, Dante vocalised our hidden fear. Dante’s so out of control, he won’t back down, and won’t apologise,” Tony said.
“And even if Dante did, he wouldn’t mean it. The words would be worthless. Dante hates me, and I’m a second-class citizen to him. We were unwanted, and Dante is gonna shove that down my throat at every opportunity. Now Dante has voiced the words, he owns them and will repeat them. Nobody can deny he won’t,” Eddie finished.
I stared at the twins, speechless. Dante had done more damage than I realised. Eddie was correct. Dante wouldn’t back down, and neither would he apologise. Not right now. Maybe when he became a decent human being again, he might say sorry and mean it. But now? No.
“Eddie,” Drake muttered, looking heartbroken. He was blaming himself for this, and rightfully so. While I spoiled all the children, there was a line they didn’t cross. But Drake never fully enforced that with Dante, and the child was awful. My precious son was a mini-dictator in the making, and I shuddered to think how he might turn out as an adult.
“You’re not going to boarding school, and neither are you leaving,” I said strongly.
“Mama Phoe, we love you, but there’s no other option.”
The words that came out of my mouth were ones I never, ever dreamed I’d utter. But they came from my lips and a heart that was shattering. “No, it’s not you who’ll leave.”
Drake sat up straight, and I felt his gaze narrow. Devastated, I blew a breath out and braced myself for what I said next. “Drake, pack a suitcase for Dante and take him to the clubhouse. You’ll both stay there until Dante learns to be human and humble again. Shit! I can’t believe I’m in the position of having to pick between my children.”
“Mama Phoe, you don’t have to!” Eddie exclaimed as she leaned forward and grasped my hands.
“Yes, I do, darling girl. And the fact you’re willing to sacrifice your home and family to do so is immeasurable. Although you and Dante fight and have always fought, there was never this level of animosity. I’ll not have my family ripped apart because of one spoilt brat. Drake created this situation, and now he’ll fix it. Your dad and I love you, and this isn’t easy for anyone. However, Eddie, you argue back, and let’s be honest, start half the shit; it’s not done out of hate,” I said.
