Page 119 of Snake

Nim

“Mmm, Mrs. Pellegrino, can I just say, this tater tot casserole is spectacular.” Mason dabs a napkin to his mouth, but he obviously doesn’t realize he has a smudge of mushroom sauce on his chin.

“You’re welcome, Mason, but please, it’s Miss Zara now.” Vicky graciously inclines her head, waving off a suddenly intent stare from Dona.

I wiggle my fingers until Mason looks over me, and then I point at his chin. He gives me a foolish grin, sticking out his tongue to lap up the spilled sauce. I roll my eyes at him, and that earns a chuckle from Knox and Silas.

It’s been a week since my entire world’s been ripped out from under me. We’re at the Hart’s house for Saturday night dinner, but honestly, I wouldn’t have come if the Serpents hadn’t convinced me.

I’m still not sure how I feel about all of this. That I’m the daughter of the wealthiest, most influential man in Cinderhart. Or that I have a new sister and a new brother. Or even the fact that I’ve decided to stay.

I was too curious to leave. I didn’t know what my future held before all of this, and now I’m even less sure than before, but there’s one thing I do know.

Knox, Mason, and Silas? They kept up their end of the deal. They well and truly had my back when I needed it. It’s only right I give them a chance.

But a chance is all they’re getting. So far, they’ve been nothing but decent, respectable men toward me. And I must admit, I’ve fallen hard.

Vicky made today’s dish. She brought it with her in the car, squeezing between Mason and me like an overprotective chaperone with her casserole dish in her lap. Her eyes were bright, her conversation animated—as is everyone else at the table.

I can’t imagine how heavy that secret had been. And they’ve had to carry it for so many years. I tried to stay angry at them. I tried to find reasons why I couldn’t accept the way they’d handled things...but truthfully, I don’t know what I would have done in their place.

Knox hasn’t gotten over Jet’s revelation either. I catch him eying Vicky every so often, dark eyes narrowed like he’s deep in thought. But he still treats her with respect. Still calls her “mother” sometimes.

I don’t think she can ask for more right now. Maybe, over time, his wounds will heal.

Mine have stopped bleeding already.

Some wounds I’ll always carry with me, though. The S on my inner thigh. When I look at it, I don’t always know how to feel about it either. A lot of what the Serpents did to me was inexcusable. Savage and criminal. But they’ve vowed to spend the rest of their lives making up for it. Can I really complain?

“Have you decided who should take over the old Galanti frat house, yet?” Jet says, seeming out of nowhere.

Knox chews on a tater tot for a moment before putting down his fork to answer. I’ll never admit this, but sometimes I watch him eat so I know how to behave at the table. He’s obviously been trained for this. He uses all of the different forks and everything. I think I’m getting better at pretending that I belong in this rich new family of mine, but I still have a lot to learn.

“Not yet,” he says, and then glances over at me so quickly that, if I’d blinked, I’d have missed it. “But maybe it’s time for some fresh blood at the Academy. I won’t lie, I was against it at first...but sometimes a new perspective is the best gift you can give yourself.”

Jet nods, looking at Gray. “Hear that, son? You can learn a lot from Knox.”

Gray glances up at Knox, then scans the rest of the table with a disinterested look. “Yes, father.”

If Jet is upset by the lack of emotion in Gray’s voice, he doesn’t show it. I guess all kids are moody at that age, even those of high-ranking families in small towns like Cinderhart.

“Vicky,” Dona says quietly, leaning over the table. “Is it true what Jet tells me? It’ll take years before Lorenzo is declared dead?”

I don’t imagine the sudden silence from every person at the table. The Serpents swear that no one but the four of us know that Lorenzo’s dead, but they know something. They must.

Vicky inhales a deep breath as she picks up her wine glass and sits back in her seat. “Seven years, maybe more. They need to make sure he doesn’t resurface.”

“Do you think he will?” From the sound of Dona’s voice, she fervently wishes he won’t.

Vicky shrugs. “Wish I knew, doll. He’s been gone a few weeks before, but nothing like this.” She looks around the table, but her eyes don’t pick anyone in particular to stare at. “This feels...permanent.”

“I’m still convinced he left the night the Winters arrived back in Cinderhart,” Ophelia says. This is only the second time I’ve met her, but she seems nice enough. Jet and her have a good relationship, although I’ve yet to see them do anything more intimate than touch the other’s arm or hand.

Which makes me wonder how Gray was conceived. Did they use a test tube, or did they get really drunk and bone each other when Ophelia was ovulating or something? Like Geri and Dona, they had to have a child. They left it a lot longer, but I guess they decided it was high time to secure their lineage.

Ophelia shakes her head as she scoops another tater tot onto her fork. “He realized his days of blackmailing us were over, and he cut his losses.”

Jet shrugs like they’ve had this conversation a million times and he was bored with it. “Only time will tell, Lia.”

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