Page 8 of Feeding Hope
“God, if I’d known that you’d have been born, I’d never have claimed Mama Phoe. You’re the worst of everyone. Nobody likes you. Aria and Alyssa can’t stand you and EJ. Do you think you’ll be their boyfriends when you’re older? Hell no. They hate you, and I can’t blame them. Even when people are doing something nice, you ruin it. You can’t set foot in church because God will burn you for being the spiteful, hateful, jealous, nasty, ignorant little shit you are!”
“At least I know my parents and where I came from. You’re a sad reject and a mutant!”
“Yeah, well, Mama Phoe picked me; she was just dumped with you! She had no choice in you!”
“Mom would pick me any day over you! I’m blood.”
“Ya think so, Dante? Remember what Mama Phoe said in the study? She loves you but doesn’t like you. How long before love turns to hate? I can’t wait to watch Mama Phoe kick you to the kerb because of how you behave!”
“Do you two mind? You’re in public! So disgusting,” a lady hissed, and we both jumped. A lady stood there with a bag of tins, but she was glaring. “How embarrassing for your mother! She must be totally ashamed of you both!”
“Why?” Mama Phoe said as she approached.
The woman wasted no time in enlightening her, and I cringed. I’d known not to engage Dante, and I had. Mama Phoe turned to us after apologising and glowered.
“How many walked away that would have donated?” she asked.
“Who cares? You can donate a bunch of money, what’s the problem?” Dante demanded.
“If you think you’re getting out of this with that piss-poor attitude, think again. Eddie, stand over there, and Dante, take the left. If either of you moves, there’ll be a punishment that will make you wish you were in an orphanage. And Dante, say goodbye to one of your gaming systems. You were warned!” Mama Phoe seethed. “Eddie, you’ve lost your phone for a month. Give it to me now!”
I handed it over with nothing but hate in my heart for Dante. Sooner rather than later, I’d get revenge. Dante was arguing with Mama Phoe and didn’t see Christian approaching from behind. Moments later, Christian hauled him off, and Dante blanched. He knew our brothers had no problem beating his ass. When Dante returned, he was pale, and Christian grabbed a chair and sat next to him.
For the rest of the morning, Dante didn’t say a word except please and thank you. I wondered what our big brother had done to terrify Dante so much. If I learned that, I’d have the upper hand for good!
Chapter Three.
Eddie
“Tony?” I called, looking in his bedroom. Tony glanced up from the bed, peering over the pages of a book.
“What’s up?” he asked as I entered and kicked the door shut.
“Everything. Bro, I don’t think I can live here anymore,” I declared dramatically and threw myself next to him. Well, that caught his attention. Tony put the book down and stared.
“What?”
“Dante is so full of hate. As much as I don’t like him in return, Dante keeps throwing in my face that we’re adopted. That our parents abandoned us and we’re rejects,” I said. Hurt bled into my voice, and Tony heard it.
“Dante has a reckoning coming. Seriously, I don’t understand what’s got into him lately, but he’s getting worse.”
“Dante is cruel and nasty. Tony, I don’t want to live with him anymore. Dante’s poison affects my life completely. We’ve fought since he could walk, but the level of hate he has is scary.”
“If you run, Eddie, he’ll win,” Tony pointed out.
I guessed why Tony was against my leaving. If I left, then he’d be alone, and we were twins. Through hell and high water, we’re meant to stick together.
“Come with me,” I suggested, and Tony shook his head.
“What about the others? And Peyton. Who’ll watch over her? Dante will turn his attention to her next,” Tony pointed out. “We’re as much Mom’s children as Dante is. He’s just gonna have to suck it up or take a walk.”
“Dante won’t, though. You’ve seen how he’s been treating Aria, and he treats Alyssa the same. He and EJ are acting like they’re property. They’ve asked Uncle Gunner to attend a different school!”
“Shit. That’s not good, Uncle Gunner will be screwing.” Tony sat up and looked worried.
“It’s a damn miracle Uncle Gunner and Dad haven’t fallen out. Uncle Gunner adores his girls. Aria’s attending ski school again this year. She took gold at the last competition, and she’s going to do the Junior Olympics in twenty-twenty-eight. Aria doesn’t need Dante being a…” I paused and glanced around, “cunt.”
“Dante’s driving her away,” Tony said, and I nodded.
