Page 16 of Vicious Games

Guess Sister Agnes got tired of my shit and took matters into her own hands.

Now I’m left with two problems—how to make our last prank legendary and figure out a way to ditch tutoring that savage.

“There you two are! You’re running a little late, aren’t you?” Our mother calls from the kitchen, flashing a bright smile as Enzo leans in to kiss her cheek.

“With the way Lucky drives, we’ve got plenty of time,” Enzo teases as I step up to give my mom a peck on the cheek.

“You’re a riot today, Enzo. A fucking riot,” I grumble, but instead of getting chewed out for my language or my dangerously fast driving, my mother cups my cheeks in her hands, inspecting my face.

“Oh, Lucky,” she sighs. “It looks even worse than it did yesterday.”

“Gee, Mom.Wayto make me feel better.”

“I’m just saying, maybe we should have Dr. Goldberg take a look at it. I’m not sure if the school nurse was right in saying your nose isn’t broken.”

“He’s fine, Red,” my father, Dominic, chimes in from the kitchen table. “It’s just a black eye. The boy won’t die from a bruise. Hispride,though? Now that’s a different story.”

“A girl!” Stella laughs, munching on a strip of bacon. “You got hit by agirl.”

“Like that’s new,” my other dad, Giovanni, teases as he winks at my older sister. “You do it all the time.”

“But I’m his sister, Dad! It’s expected! Lucky got hit by a nun!”

“What are you talking about? She is not a nun!” I snap.

“Notyet,” Stella smirks. “But everyone knows that Sister Margaretta is like a mother to Frances, which means she’s been groomed to be a nun practically since birth. It’s only a matter of time.”

My brows knit together.

I didn’t know that.

In fact, up until yesterday, Frances O’Malley hadnevercrossed my mind.

She was just another orphan from St. Mary’s, one of the many who attended Sacred Heart. I tend to avoid girls from there. They’ve already started life at a disadvantage, so fucking them and then ghosting them afterward would be a dick move on my part.

I’d rather stick to those spoiled, trust-fund princesses with huge daddy issues.

My conscience sleeps better that way.

“I’d like to meet her,” my mother suddenly announces, causing my blood to run cold.

“What?” I splutter, dropping the piece of bacon to the floor. “Yougottabe fucking with me.”

“Language,” Gio scolds.

“I don’t see the problem.” My mother shrugs, unfazed.

Instead of appealing to her, I turn to my father instead.

“Dad, come on. Mom has to be joking. Why the hell would we invite the girl whodid thisto my face over for dinner?” I point to my fucked-up face.

“Whydoyou want to invite her over?” Gio asks, raising an intrigued brow.

“Why not?” My mother grins as she pours herself some coffee. “If this girl lashed out at Lucky, maybe she’s having a hard time. And if that’s the case, then maybe there’s something we can do to help.”

“I love this idea!” my baby sister, Annamaria, piles on. “I’d love to pick Frances’ brains on something.”

“For the last time, Anna,” Stella groans, rolling her eyes, “you arenotbecoming a nun.”

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