On the far side of the table, a loud sob broke out.
“I-I mean… W-why did they h-have to grow u-up?!” Tata Ternin wailed dramatically, turning his tear-streaked face to me. “Niya, my sweet little candy thief, is now a big girl! Ripping out hearts and gouging out eyeballs!”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. When Papu Syris started dabbing athiseyes with a napkin, I knew we were in for the long haul.
“Remember when Nova pissed in Ax’s shoes? Glorious, I tell you, just glorious.” Tata sniffled toward Pops Manic, who smirked and winked at Nova. Her neck went red, but she wisely stayed silent. Interrupting Tata only made it worse.
“I don’t remember it hurting this much when those five idiots decided to date my daughter… for an extended period of time.”
“Married,Ternin,” Papa Avery sighed, clearly resigned. “We married your daughter. We’re her husbands.”
Tata slammed a hand on the table, fire in his eyes. “I’m playing the long game, just waiting you five out. Eventually, you’ll die, then she’ll be free of your dick spell!”
Tata paused, his eyes sweeping over us. “Actually, it'll be the two of usandthe kids. They're perfect in every way.”
Father Falcon didn't even look at him. He simply winked at me before going back to his food. Apá Cosmo just sipped his drink, ignoring Tata like always. Dad Ax snorted and gestured to us.
“You do realize they’re all part of us, too, right?”
Tata waved him off. “Pish posh. Rayla’s superior genes wiped out all your defective ones.”
He gestured dramatically. “Come on! Look at these kids! Desmond through and through. Gorgeous, savage, unstoppable. Just exquisite beings who are going to take over the world.”
Mom took a sip from her drink, laughing into her glass as she watched her dad go toe-to-toe with her husbands.
“That’s it!” Papu Syris yelled, slamming his palm on the table. “I’m going to shove my fist in your mouth and down your throat! That’s called fisting, right, Niya?!”
Nova nearly fell out of her chair. Riot’s eyes went wide. Calix groaned like he’d finally woken up. Ezra just closed her eyes and breathed deep.
“I mean…” I thought about it, and even if it was normally an act meant for two other holes in your body, that didn't mean he waswrong…but I also didn't want him going around threatening to fist others. “No, Papu. That’s not what fisting means.”
He scowled. “Are you sure? It seems self-explanatory…” He made a fist and mimed jamming it down, completely serious.
Before I could lose it, Pops Manic waved a hand.
“Forget all that. Fairy Dust over there doesn’t speak for the rest of us, but he’s also not wrong. These kids have Rossey in them.” His fist smacked into the table like a gavel.
“And Winstale!” Grandpa Easton, who was usually the quiet one, chimed in.
“And Devil,” Daddy Lex added lazily, chin propped on his hand, watching it all unfold with amusement. He was the one who always enjoyed this chaos, probably because his own parents were gone, and he liked seeing families fight and love all at once.
“Enough!” Mom’s voice cut through everything like a whip, and the men fell silent. One of her many superpowers.
“Next week, we’re officially handing over leadership, and to make sure you rise on your own, your fathers and I are going overseas on vacation. No calls, no bail-outs. You’ll deal with everything yourselves.”
My heart pounded. This was it. Therealbeginning.
She smiled at us before looking at our fathers. “When we finally united as a team, we got matching tattoos. Something to signify the start of our reign.”
At that, Daddy Lex looked smitten. Dad Ax chuckled under his breath. Apá Cosmo suddenly found his drink fascinating as hehid a rare smile. Father Falcon tugged at his collar. Papa Avery stared at Mom like she hung the stars.
Yeah. Ireallydidn’t want to know what happened that night.
Mom tossed a key to Ezra. “Shadow Skinner’s shop is still set up for the night. Think of it as a bonding moment.”
Dad Ax grabbed my mom’s hand and ran his nose up her arm, heat in his eyes. “Maybe we should get touch-ups… Make use of that chair again?”
Nope. No. Definitely don’t want to know anything about that.
