I wonder if her family got her gifts for Christmas.
“Merry Christmas,” Vanessa says, looking between us. “And you’re both welcome next year.”
She doesn’t understand how big that is to me.
I haven’t even told Pandora about my mother going missing, so she couldn’t have told Vanessa. Maybe Vanessa thinks I’ve atoned enough.
I really don’t know. I glance in Giulio’s direction, unsure of what to make of Vanessa’s invitation. He’s holding the tegu out to Slayer, though, who recoils comically, so he’s clearly not paying attention to what’s going on over here.
“Mama is just glad that you’re not the kind of guests to start afeud over breakfast,” Pandora says, nudging my arm. “Speaking of, Kratos, stop diddling your phone and pay attention to family things!”
Kratos flips her off, but Ares takes the opportunity to steal the phone from his hands.
“Oooh, are we texting Stasya?Yeah, Christmas is so boring,” Ares reads out loud. “Oh look, a new text.Is Ares still single? I’m thinking of asking him out.”
“She did not say that, you fucking loser,” Kratos snarls at him. “She’d never go out with you.”
She’d have to be insane to go out with either of the twins, but I have the good sense and self-preservation skills not to say so.
Kratos grabs for his phone, but Ares holds it out of his reach.
“Give that back!” Kratos demands.
Ares shakes his head and skips back a few steps. “Let’s see… How about…” He types, or pretends to type. “My sister brought this girl Samantha home. She’s really hot. I’m going to ask her out.”
Samantha goes stiff next to me, and Pandora scowls.
“Leave Samantha out of this, you dickwads,” Pandora says, getting up.
“Yes, that’s enough of that,” Vanessa intervenes, plucking the phone out of Ares’s hands. “It’s time for breakfast. All of you can behave that long, at least. You can have your phone back after we eat. Go help set the table, both of you.”
Kratos protests, but Vanessa levels a look at him that has him sighing. “Yes, Mama.” He stalks off, with Ares following behind him.
“He doesn’t mean anything by it,” Mel tells Samantha once Kratos is gone. Her voice is quiet, but Samantha looks at her and nods.
“I know,” she says.
Does she? Or does she think the Pavone twins are like the men who abducted and abused her?
“All right, all of you,” Vanessa says. “We’re going to have breakfast as a family, then you’re free of your obligations.”
“There is no freedom from family obligations!” Giulio declaresimmediately. “But you can be free of naughty parents.” He walks over to us and hands Pandora a small box. “Open it later, Frog.”
Pandora gives him a strange smile. “Really? You don’t want to see my reaction and document it for all future generations?”
“Nah.” Giulio turns to me. “I told your father you’re here, and that if he wants to keep working as a manager at my clubs, he should be a real fucking father and provide for his son—including tuition. Merry Christmas.”
Then he follows the twins out of the room, still holding the tegu in his arms.
I stare after him in shock.
Vanessa squeezes my shoulder, then leaves the room with the others.
“Did he really…” I trail off, and I realize my eyes are stinging with unshed tears. “Fuck. Pandora, what the hell did you tell your papa?”
“Uh, that you got kicked out and that your dad is a dick?” Pandora shrugs. “See, he’s not a bad guy.”
I very carefullydon’tscoff at that.
