Page 10 of Feeding Hope
“I don’t like Dante, Mama Phoe. Can’t say I ever will. I’d be glad never to see him again. Tony and I are happy to go to boarding school, and we can spend vacations with Fanatic and the others,” Eddie suggested.
That hurt deeply and shot straight to my heart. Eddie was ready to give up everything to escape my youngest son’s hate. Christ. Almost grieving, I turned and held Drake’s gaze. His face was impassive, but I read his eyes. Drake was beyond devastated; there was guilt and self-recrimination, too. Yeah, shit had got real.
“No. You don’t leave. Dante and I will,” Drake finally said.
“Dad, Mama Phoe needs you. It’s okay, we’re not blood.”
Eddie’s words hit like a truck, and I literally flinched away. Seconds ticked past as I absorbed the blow, and then I shoved out of my chair and cupped her face.
“You’remydaughter. I don’t give a fuck about blood, never have and never will. You pickedme, Eddie, to be your mama,and I was so honoured. Never doubt that. Actions, not words, will mend this. I shouldn’t have to choose between children, but this is the position I’m forced into. I won’t forsake two for the sake of one. Your request, darling, to go to a boarding school is denied,” I said softly. “However, I shall be researching one for Dante!”
“Eddie, you shouldn’t feel you have to leave home to keep the peace. Yeah, I’ve indulged Dante too much for a stupid reason. He was my first baby. Scout and the others were older when I came along. None of this has anything to do with Dante sharing my bloodline,” Drake added.
Eddie held Drake’s gaze. “Wish I could believe that, Dad. But we all know that Dante is your legacy because he’s your blood son.”
Drake flinched as Eddie’s words hit home. Damn, Eddie was astute, overly so. Drake looked as if he was struggling.
“Nobody else showed any interest in being President. Fanatic joined Hellfire to get away from the club,” Drake finally said.
“But Carmine, Tye, Christian, Jared, Aaron, and Cody all joined. Any of them could have been your legacy, but they weren’t. Dante is because he has Michaelson blood. We accepted that, but Dante has taken that to mean he’s above us, and you never stopped him, Dad. A lot of our fighting was about putting him in his place, which you overruled constantly.”
Trust Eddie not to pull her punches. Drake shifted uncomfortably. I guessed my husband well enough; he was wondering if Eddie was calling him a bad father. Drake wasn’t, and Eddie knew that. She loved Drake, but also accepted that Drake gave Dante leeway he didn’t allow anyone else. In Drake’s defence, he often didn’t realise he was doing it. He was a fantastic dad who adored the children. Adopted or otherwise.
“Yeah, I’ve been warned over the years, and I ignored Mom. That’s on me. The fact it’s come to you begging to go to boardingschool to avoid another of my children…well.” Drake sighed loudly and rubbed his chin. “This shit shouldn’t be happening. Dante will get in line. I promise. Can I ask one thing?”
“Of course!” Eddie exclaimed.
“Give me two months to sort Dante out. If I haven’t got Dante under control, then I’ll move out with him permanently until he’s a decent human being. This afternoon we’ll head to the clubhouse for a week. After that, we’ll return home and see how it goes. Eddie, I’m aware this is a big ask,” Drake stated.
I pursed my lips. Drake was putting everything on Eddie’s shoulders, and I didn’t like that. That put added pressure on her and was wrong.
“Fine, I don’t want to split the family up, and I don’t like the idea of you and Mama Phoe being apart. But you’ve gotta make Dante behave. We’ll still argue, but his attitude and opinions fuckin’ suck!” Eddie replied.
I couldn’t scold Eddie because she was right.
“If I beat on him, Dante deserves it,” Tony added. “No soothing Dante by giving him something that Mama took away. No taking Dante for meals when he’s been a shit. You’ve gotta abide by Mama’s rules, Dad. That’s the only way this will work. Eddie is half to blame for the constant fighting and one-ups, but the hate belongs to Dante alone. I don’t wanna leave home, but I will if Eddie’s forced out.”
“Eddie won’t be driven out, son,” Drake said, reaching out and squeezing his shoulder.
Tony looked at him. “Dad, I’m trusting you; don’t let me down.”
If this meeting didn’t hit home, then nothing would.
Drake
I didn’t bother packing because I had stuff at the clubhouse. However, I had packed a backpack for Dante. Four pairs of jeans, socks, underwear, four tees, one pair of old sneakers and one sweater. And some old sweatpants to sleep in. A grin crossed my lips. Dante wouldn’t know what’s hit him. As I picked the pack up, Dante entered the room.
“What’s going on?” he demanded.
I studied my son and inwardly winced. Dante wore a sullen expression, like the world was against him, and had an air of entitlement. Even the way Dante stood spoke of money and attitude. Dante had grown into one of the rich brats that I used to beat on as a kid myself. I understood what Phoe had meant when she said she loved him but didn’t like him.
“We’re going to stay at the clubhouse.”
Dante pondered that for a few moments, and then a grin crossed his face. “Cool! Just me and you, Dad. Let’s blow this joint!”
His words didn’t shock me. I was beyond that now, where Dante was concerned.
“What do you think’s happening here?” I demanded sitting on the bed.
