Chapter Two.
Phoe
The following morning, I stared at my children, full of love for them both, but fed up to the back teeth with their attitude.
I wasn’t sure who was worse, Dante or Eddie.
Actually, I was. While Eddie was retaliatory, Dante was often the instigator.
But for fighting? They were a tie-breaker.
After yesterday, I’d taken a day to consider what other punishment I planned to dish out.
Dante was glaring, looking butt-hurt, and I didn’t give a shit.
Drake had failed to be a guiding hand for our son; now it was down to me.
“While I am furious at your words, Dante, and make no mistake, I won’t forget them for a long time, the food fight was also appalling.
Both of you showed a total lack of respect for Mrs Ames, who made dinner.
Plus, there’s the issue of the disrespect shown for my home, the furniture, and the fact Mrs Ames cooked something you’d all enjoy. ”
“Sorry, but…”
“No buts, Eddie. You’re fifteen, old enough to walk away.
Honestly, you and Dante have always fought, and you have two personalities that don’t mesh.
That’s fine; if everyone got on, we’d all be boring.
But throwing food? A meal that many dream of eating?
No. Unacceptable. For you to learn a lesson, I’ve reached out, and both of you are spending this weekend working at a collection point for a food bank. ”
“What?” Eddie hissed. “I had a date.”
“Not anymore. Make no mistake, from eight in the morning till five in the evening you’ll be collecting at a supermarket.
Saturday and Sunday. You’ll learn that the food you carelessly threw around could have fed a family for an entire day.
Some people haven’t had pot roast in months because their finances are so tight.
Yet you spoiled ingrates showed no appreciation for good food or any gratitude. ”
“Can’t I do this next weekend?” Eddie whined.
“No. Neither of you was around, but there was once a time when I had to feed Fanatic, Jodie, Christian, Jared, Aaron and myself on twenty-five bucks a week. That didn’t go fuckin’ far, trust me, and I went hungry or dived down bins for scraps.
That’s something you two have never known and hopefully won’t.
But that happened, and I’m so damn grateful for every mouthful I eat.
You both need to be brought down to earth. ”
“Nope, I’m not doing this with her,” Dante spat.
Unsurprised, I stared at him. My loving baby boy had become a fuckin’ monster.
Dante had always been wilful, mouthy and opinionated, same as Eddie, but cruel – no.
Not until now. Both of them had their moments, but I’d not witnessed such naked hatred.
“You will. And now your no-luxury punishment has been extended a week. You might think you can talk down to me, Dante, but you’re very much mistaken.
I’m your mother. Show respect, or life’s going to become very dark and unpleasant for you.
Currently, your punishment stands at six weeks.
Should it reach three months, Dante, I’ll give your stuff away, and you’ll move into the barest, minimally decorated room.
A bed, wardrobe, bedcovers, and nothing else.
I’m the parent, don’t push me,” I hissed.
Dante looked horrified. He couldn’t believe how tough I was being. Drake and I had punished him in the past, but not this harshly. He was out of control.
“God, I hate you,” Dante snarled.
“Good. Because I really don’t like you.” Dante flinched at my retort, and Eddie’s jaw dropped open. “I love you, but I seriously dislike what you’re becoming.”
Dante was lost for words. For once, I’d shut my mouthy child up.
“As for you, young lady, you’ve always been a handful, but you are five years older.
You should know when to walk away. Dante is quite simply a prick.
Everyone knows it. That’s the Michaelson blood.
But like his father, Dante can learn to control his assholeness.
But you, I swear, were born to fight. You’ll either be president one day or a master criminal.
I’m not sure which. But while you live under this roof, both of you will obey my house rules and learn humility. Honestly, I’m ashamed of both of you.”
That struck home with Eddie, but not Dante. Nope, he looked even more belligerent. Oh well, so be it. I’ll win in the end.
Fanatic
“What the fuck happened?” I demanded as Peyton babbled down the line. My little sister sighed and started telling me again. I wasn’t surprised Mum hadn’t told me. Willow crowded next to me as I listened to Peyton explain the whole situation.
“And Mum’s punishing them both?”
“Yes. Mommy’s furious. Really angry, Micah.
She has been yelling at Dad and Dante for four days now, and Dante’s punishment is up to two months!
Mommy said that if Dante hits three months, she’s going to give all his stuff away and he’ll have a bare bedroom,” Peyton explained.
I sighed when Peyton called me Micah. She’d never learned to call me Fanatic.
My little sister – my eyes and ears in Mum’s household.
With Mum’s migraines, I watched over Mum closely.
Naturally, I didn’t want Mum getting ill.
Clearly, my baby brother didn’t give a shit about that.
Selfish bastard. Willow held my gaze, and I knew what she was thinking.
She’d warned me ages ago that this would happen. My beautiful wife hadn’t been wrong.
“I’ll call Mum and then Dad,” I soothed Peyton. It was clear she was worried and scared.
“Micah. Dante said Eddie’s not really our sister because she’s adopted.”
Willow hissed in a breath as I cursed loudly. “Little fuckwit!”
Damn, I could only imagine how Eddie was feeling after that comment. Mum and Dad had treated nobody differently. Actually, I took that back. Dante had been spoiled the moment he’d drawn breath, and Dad hadn’t kept a firm hand on him. Sure, Dante got punished, but Dad often indulged the shithead.
“Do you wanna come visit with Willow and me for a few days?” I asked, hearing the stress in Peyton’s voice.
“Yes, but I can’t leave the others,” Peyton whispered.
“Don’t worry, Peyton, we’ll call Phoe and have everyone, but Dante stay here. We’ll make a weekend of it,” Willow said, and I glanced at my wife with pure love.
She was amazing. Willow didn’t flinch at my family and had grown up with biker craziness.
Hell, she’d had her own crazy to deal with when Willow had been undercover for a few years to bring down a cartel.
Keith, Willow’s own brother, had outed her, and there’d been a shootout at Rage as the cartel tried to eliminate her.
Keith had been killed by them, and Axel had never really recovered from knowing what his son had done to his daughter.
“How about a campout and barbecue? Danny will enjoy seeing his aunts and uncles,” I added to reassure Peyton.
“Thank you!” Peyton gushed, and I knew she was feeling the atmosphere that had no doubt permeated Reading Hall.
“I’ll phone Mum. Be good kidda. Love you,” I said and cut the call.
“Seems all hell’s broken out,” Willow mused. “Micah, I adore Dante; there is greatness in him, but his attitude is beyond a joke.”
“Can’t disagree.” I looked out the window. If we didn’t stop Dante now, the repercussions would be awful. He wouldn’t be able to take over Rage MC because he wouldn’t become a decent human, and Dante had serial killer potential.
Phoe
“Who do you want?” I asked Fanatic, knowing Eddie and Dante would probably be off the list.
“Scout, Timmy, Garrett, Jake, Peyton, and Tony. Dante and Eddie don’t get to come,” Fanatic replied.
I snorted. “Which one squealed?”
“Peyton. This is affecting her badly, Mum. Peyton needs a break. We all know Dante turns on her when he’s feeling bad,” Fanatic stated.
That was true. However, Peyton and Dante fought like siblings, without the hate that Eddie and Dante had.
“The whole weekend?”
“Yeah. Give them a break, because from what I’m hearing, Reading Hall isn’t a pleasant place right now,” Fanatic said.
Guilt swept me. Were things really that bad? Shit. That worried me. I didn’t want the kids to grow up in a tumultuous atmosphere. Drake and I were failing.
“Mum, don’t go down the rabbit hole. It’s not nice because of Dante’s throwing attitude. It’s no different from when one of us did the same.”
“Not like Eddie and Dante!”
“Nope, but we had our moments. Still do,” Fanatic admitted with a chuckle. He wasn’t wrong. A few weeks ago, the older kids were home, and there’d been bloody noses, black eyes and bruises galore as they played a rough game of capture the flag.
“True.”
“Willow and I will come and grab them on Friday night, unless you can drop them off? Save us using two cars?” Fanatic asked.
“Yeah. I’ll bring them after school. Are you sure you and Willow don’t mind?”
“Nope. See you then.”
Eddie
I couldn’t believe the indignity of standing here. Wrapped up warmly, Dante and I stood with Mama Phoe and another lady at the supermarket where the food collection was happening. The store was open, and shoppers were busy coming and going.
I don’t know what I’d expected, but it hadn’t been this.
Most people saw us and glanced away. They didn’t want to make eye contact or speak to us.
Mama Phoe ignored that, though and engaged customers with the other lady.
A lady exited, handed me two tins of carrots, and smiled before leaving.
Was that it? Just two cans? What was that about?
Thoughtfully, I put them in the cart and gazed at it.
It was nearly empty, okay, even though the shop had only been open for half an hour.
It had been busy, yet we hardly had anything to show.
Even if each person bought just one item, we’d have a full cart.
Mama Phoe’s meaning was sinking in. How did these few paltry items of food feed a family?
More shoppers walked past, ignoring us, and Dante began complaining.
“This sucks.”