“Mrs Ames and the staff are fully aware that Dante is not allowed snacks or any other food than what I’ve ordered. He can wait for lunch. Dante will eat that or go hungry. And if he joins us here, his lunch will be thrown away. He eats in the kitchen.” Mama Phoe said calmly.
She turned to Dante. “After we’ve finished eating, you can go lie down for a nap. You must be exhausted to be throwing tantrums this early. Drake, youwillsupervise, and that doesn’t mean interact with him. It means ensuring Dante stays in his room and has a nap. Babies need firm boundaries.”
Dante’s jaw dropped open as everyone else gaped. Mama Phoe wasn’t messing around. Holy shit!
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’vereached 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 havea 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.
