Page 125 of Gratification in Gluttony

“I love you so fucking much,” Toni said as he hauled Jude into a fierce hug. “Stay with me, okay?”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Jude vowed, and Toni believed him.

Steeling himself, Toni took Jude’s hand, trying not to hold too tight as he headed toward Flo’s hospital room. Thanks to numerous donations from the Maryno family over the years, there was a whole wing of fancier birthing suites with their own private waiting rooms. It was no surprise that Flo had been assigned to one; only the best for the Marynos.

The moment before Toni led Jude through the door to the waiting room, Jude tapped his shoulder. Toni cocked his head inquestion, and Jude stood taller, spine straight, shoulders set—a wordless encouragement. Toni copied him, not even realizing he’d been hunching forward to make himself smaller.

But fuck that. Toni had made himself small far longer than he ever should have. So, he stood tall, and Jude smiled proudly, giving him a nod. Toni nodded back, then he opened the door and walked into the waiting room.

Everyone was already there, and the buzz of conversation ground to a halt as every eye turned to Toni—or rather, to ToniandJude. His human didn’t falter, though. He met the eyes staring at him boldly, grip strong in Toni’s hand, and Toni swore he fell in love with him all over again.

“Uncle Toni, the babies are here,” Angel cried, rushing toward him, barely slowing before she collided with his legs. “Mama said I could come see them as long as I was really good. And I was! I was quiet and calm and didn’t even run in the hallways.”

Without releasing Jude’s hand, Toni bent down and hoisted Angel up in one arm, propping her on his hip as she prattled a mile a minute, totally unaware of the tension in the air. “So, Mama said I could stay up past my bedtime and if I was very careful, maybe I could hold the babies too.”

“That sounds like a pretty fair deal to me. And I know you’d be very careful with the babies.”

Angel nodded, her blue curls bouncing. “Uh-huh, I’ll be so careful because they’re small and fra—fragile.”

“Well, maybe you can teach me how to hold the babies, since you’re gonna be the expert.”

Angel rolled her eyes. “You know how to hold babies, Uncle Toni. I was a baby once, and you held me. I saw pictures.”

Toni chuckled. “You’re right; I can’t pull the scales over your eyes, can I?”

“Nope,” she said primly, shaking her head. “I’m too smart; that’s what Grandpa says.” For the first time, Angel noticed Jude—really noticed him—and her smile dropped, eyes widening. “What’s that?”

Someone snorted—Kat, Toni thought—and Toni glanced down at Jude, who was watching them intensely, expression bemused since he couldn’t understand them. He smiled in reassurance as he spoke to Angel, “This is my boyfriend, Jude.” Several hisses sounded around them, but Toni ignored them. “He’s human.”

Switching to English, Toni said, “This is my niece, Angel.”

“Hi, Angel. It’s nice to meet you,” Jude said with a cautious smile, and Angel ducked her head shyly.

“He talks funny,” she said in Elani, and Toni nodded.

“Yeah, he only speaks English. You can say hello if you want.” Nibbling on the inside of her cheek, she shook her head, hiding deeper in Toni’s neck. To Jude, he said, “She’s a little shy.”

“That’s okay,” Jude said, dropping his voice like they were sharing a secret. “I get shy too, sometimes.”

Toni knew her English wasn’t very strong yet, but she must have understood enough, because she giggled, revealing her sharp teeth, and Jude grinned back.

“Angel,” Sal said harshly, making Angel jump in Toni’s hold, smile dropping. “Go with Aunt Mins. She’ll get you some warmkocato drink.”

Mins, barely looking at Toni at all, offered her hand to Angel, and Toni set her down so she could take it. He ruffled her hair as she followed Mins out of the waiting room.

“See you, squirt,” Toni said.

Before she left, she sent Toni and Jude a hesitant wave and whispered, “Bye,” in English.

“Bye,” Jude said, waving back, and Toni took a deep breath in preparation for what was to come.

The moment the door closed, Bett, already vibrating with anger, spat, “What the fuck is this, Tonus?”

“What do you mean? I’m here to see Flo, just like you.”

She snarled wordlessly as Sal crossed his arms over his chest in a poor attempt at intimidation. “This is entirely uncalled for,” he said. “This is a family affair, and you bringthatwith you.”

“If you’re gonna insult him,” Toni said in English, “at least be bold enough to do it in English, so he knows you’re being an asshole.”

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