“Try me.” Melani arches a brow at Rayna, looking a bit too angry before anything has even truly been said. “I doubt youhave anything too brutal to say toward the family that’s given you so much.”
Oh fuck.
“Melani,” Jade gasps at the rude words, completely surprised by our sister-in-law’s abrupt change in tone.
“Be careful,” Apollo warns, his voice going all Capo.
Rayna isn’t thrown by the comment, if anything, it seems to fuel her. “The last I checked, Apollo is the only one who’s given us anything. If you’re looking for a thank you, you should look elsewhere.”
Melani practically seethes. “Do we have a problem?”
“Girl fight,” I whisper, chuckling into my glass.
Whoops, that was an inside thought.
Jade smacks my stomach with the back of her hand and hisses, “Don’t goad!”
“I couldn’t help it,” I whisper back.
I can’t believe Cesar hasn’t shouted something in his babbling voice to break up this tension yet, but he seems just as invested as I am.
Little menace.
“If there’s something you’d like to say, Rayna, we’re here to listen,” Dad suddenly cuts in. I can’t read the expression on his face, but he certainly doesn’t look as mad as either of the girls. “Any complaints are welcome, we’re a reasonable family.”
Melani scoffs. “What could she have to complain about? From where I’m sitting, she looks like she’s got it made.”
“Melani,” Jade says again, almost firmer this time.
I don’t blame her for being so shocked. Jade has never seen Melani’s ruthless side. I don’t think many people have.
“You want to know my complaint? Fine,” Rayna says, voice hard as she glares across the table, gaze unwavering. “You all think you’re God’s gift to women.”
My eyes widen, hearing the disdain in those words.
“I won’t spit in the face of what Apollo has done for me and Yordan. But I know people this family has hurt and neglected, so forgive me if I don’t feel like toasting to your greatness.”
“Rayna…” Yordan speaks up, looking around the table with an awkward wince. “Maybe you shouldn’t?—”
“Yes, Rayna, maybe you shouldn’t,” Melani interrupts.
“Maybeyoushouldn’t be so vocal considering you’re the reason I’ve resented the Moretti name foryears.”
Melani folds her arms over her chest. “Wow. I had heard that you were rude, but I didn’t expect you to be so brazen about it.”
“Oh, I’m sure we’ve both heard unpleasant things about each other, haven’t we?” Rayna laughs bitterly. “Personally, I’d rather be rude than heartless.”
“Heartless?”
Rayna lifts a shoulder, shrugging as if to sayyou heard me.“Heartless, unfeeling, cold to the bone, evil incarnate—whichever you prefer.”
Oh shit.
I wonder if Anya will let me call her to give her a play by play of this interaction. I don’t think texting would do it justice.
“Hey,” Emilio barks. “Watch how you speak to?—”
“Watch howyouspeak, brother,” Apollo snaps in return, fist flexing on top of the table. “Let them settle it themselves.”
