Page 21 of Gratification in Gluttony

“You want her babies to starve?” Kat’s jaw dropped dramatically. “What kind of monster are you?”

“I don’t want your babies to starve, Flo. I don’t want anyone to starve!” Toni barked, pointing his finger at each of them in turn. “My mother is in mortal peril, and y’all are gonna stand around and yell at me over some crisps?”

“Do not take that tone with me, Toni!” Flo, Mins, and Kat all said simultaneously.

A loudcrunchinterrupted the yelling, and everyone turned their attention to Gem, who leaned against the wall, looking positively giddy as he snacked on his doka seeds.

“Oh, don’t mind me,” he said. “I’m already having a great time. Carry on.”

Before Toni’s sisters could turn their wrath on Gem, the door to the hall opened, and a tiny Elas rushed into the room. “Uncle Toni!” Angel screeched in excitement as she crashed into Toni’s legs.

“Hey, baby girl, is that you?” Toni hoisted her into his arms and spun her around as she squealed in delight. “I didn’t recognize you; you’ve gotten so big! Oh my gods, look at that fin.”

Angel squeezed his neck so tight she was nearly squashing his gills, but he didn’t care. She could disfigure him all day, and he’d let her. Judging from his oldest sister, Bett’s expression as she slipped into the room, Angel would not have the chance, so Toni tucked his face into his niece’s hair and soaked in what little time he’d have to hold her.

“You missed our last play date at Aunt Flo’s!” Angel pouted as she leaned back, arms clasped behind his neck.

“I know, baby, I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you next time, I promise.”

She frowned sternly at him. “You better.”

“Angel,” Bett said stiffly, and Angel’s black eyes shifted over Toni’s shoulder to her mother. She wriggled in his hold, indicating her desire to be put down, so Toni crouched and set her on her feet.

He stole one last hug, kissing the top of her head before he straightened and gently pushed her toward her mother. “Go on back to your momma while I talk with the grown-ups, okay?”

The sweet smile she sent him made his throat cinch, and he blinked several times to fight off the burn. Bett handed Angel a clear bag of coloring supplies, then directed her to the small table in the corner. She spared Toni a brief glance, and Toni nodded at her.

“Bett,” he greeted.

“Toni,” she replied.

“You look good.”

“I wish I could say the same, but you look about as good as you smell.”

Chuckling, he tucked his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Well, I was in a bit of a hurry. Didn’t exactly have time to freshen up.”

“And now we all have to suffer,” a deep, grating voice sounded from behind him, and Toni did his best not to roll his eyes as hisleast favorite brother-in-law brushed past him, making sure to shoulder-check him just enough to knock him off balance.

“Sal, how lovely to see you,” Toni deadpanned as Sal, Bett’s husband, took his place at his wife’s side.

Unlike Toni’s family, who were all shades of grayish-blue, Sal was nearly pure white. His eyes were the lightest gray Toni had ever seen, and it gave him the willies. He was shorter than Toni, shorter even than Bett, but he carried himself with the ego of a much taller man.

He had never liked Toni, and the feelings had always been mutual. He was a brown-nosing little prick, wanting to take Toni’s place as heir to the business. Which was just fine by Toni, since he had no interest in filling his father’s shoes.

Honestly, he just wanted to get through this without wanting to wring Sal’s neck. Well, until Sal decided to insult Gem right to Toni’s face.

“Why’d you bring thevlier?” he sneered, giving Gem a disgusted once-over.

Toni growled, but before he could rip Sal a new asshole, Gem barked a mocking laugh. “If I’m such a vlier, then how come I did your mom last night?” Several hisses buzzed around them, but Gem just smirked and cracked down on another seed. “Don’t worry, babe, I was generous. She said I was the best she’d ever had.”

Unable to hold back a snicker, Toni cleared his throat and said, “It’s true. I was there for the whole horrifying thing.”

Baring his teeth, Sal stepped forward menacingly. “What did you say about my mother?”

“Mmm, please,” Gem simpered. “Take notes from your receding hairline and step back.”

Bett glowered at Gem so deeply she looked like a caricature of herself, and Sal’s pale complexion colored with a humiliated flush. Mins had her hand pressed to her mouth in horror as herhusband, Walli, squeezed her upper arms above her fins. Kat was still as a statue as Flo’s gaze jumped between Sal and Toni, nails digging into Mak’s forearm.

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