Page 103 of Reaper & Ruin
“And this,” I said, turning slightly toward Atlas, “is Atlas. My boyfriend.”
There was a beat of silence, just long enough for me to notice the flicker of surprise in my mother’s eyes at the idea of such a relationship. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a warm smile. She stepped toward Atlas with just as much ease.
“It’s wonderful to meet you, Atlas,” she grabbed him too, pulling him in for a hug just as hard as she gushed. “You’re very handsome!” She looked him up and down. No care for his tattoos, or weapons, or the violence that would never leave his eyes. “Oh, I have so many questions for you,figlio.My Emi told me you were from Russia, and I always wanted to go! I think the snow suits me far more than sunshine.”
Atlas nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips as he offered placations and niceties that he never normally had.
It was odd, seeing him be so… polite. Not that he was ever rude. But he seemed the most normal I had ever known him, and it was bizarre.
My mama’s gaze lingered on the three of us for a moment. Then she smiled again, clasping her hands in front of her. “I’m so happy you’re here,” she said, her eyes shining. “I’ve missed you, Gio.”
“I missed you too, mama.” I hesitated, then added, “Did you call everyone home?”
Her expression faltered, just slightly. She glanced over her shoulder, as if she could see the dining room from here, then back at me. “Yes, of course,” she said. “The little ones are playing in the parlor. The rest are in the dining room, waiting for you.”
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Good. Let’s not keep them waiting.”
She stepped aside, and I led Heather and Atlas into the house. The familiar scent of polished wood and faintly lingering incense hit me immediately, and I felt a strange pang of nostalgia. It was the same house, the same walls, but everything felt… different.
Could a house know that the evil had been banished from within its walls?
The dining room door was slightly ajar when we reached it. I pushed it open, stepping inside with Heather and Atlas close behind me.
The table was exactly as I remembered—long, heavy, and impossibly formal, just as my father had always wanted. Most of my siblings were already seated, their conversations falling silent the moment they saw me. Their gazes flicked to Heather, then to Atlas, their expressions ranging from curiosity to confusion.
At the head of the table, the seat that had always belonged to my father stood empty.
I walked to it without hesitation, pulling the chair out and sitting down. It felt strange, unnatural, but I didn’t let it show. Heather hesitated, glancing at me, but I tugged her gently onto my lap. Her blush was immediate, but she didn’t resist, her hands settling on my shoulder for balance. Atlas took his place beside me, standing tall and steady, his hand resting lightly on the back of my chair. He had enough weapons on his body tocause a stir, but they were just his way of playing games. He would never have needed to use them.
The thick silence stretched as each of my siblings stared at me, waiting for me to make the first move. There were a billion things I wanted to say to them, but nothing seemed good enough, so I started with the obvious.
“I’m back.” I breathed. “But you know I’m not staying. I have to stay away and leave Emilio in charge for now.” I inclined my head to him, and he nodded back as he nursed a glass of something dark.
“I’m only boss for show.” He drawled. “But I’ll do my best not to get us all killed.”
Heather snorted, and he winked at her.
“For those of you who haven’t met them,” I waved to her and Atlas, “this is Heather, my girlfriend, and Atlas, my boyfriend.”
The murmurs began immediately, and Dante was the first to speak, his light voice cutting through the noise.
“Both?” he asked, raising a dark eyebrow with the sass only a teenager could pull off. “You’re so greedy, Gio.” He smirked at Heather. “I could take you off his hands,bella. I’m far more fun, and I’m not decrepit yet.”
He looked like he wanted to say more, but Arabelle smacked his arm lightly as she flicked a lock of dark red hair over her shoulder. “Don’t start,” she said, before she turned and smiled. “Hi, Heather. Hi, Atlas. I’m Arabelle. I’m Gio’s favorite sister.”
“Bullshit. I’m the favorite.” Aurora cut in, her dark eyes narrowed at her older sister. “But hi! It’s nice to meet you both.”
One by one, my siblings introduced themselves, with nothing but warmth and happiness in the air, until I knew I had to dash it, and deal with the real reasons I came home.
I took a deep breath and dropped the bomb.
“Our father is dead,” I said bluntly. “It happened a few days ago.”
The reaction was immediate. Gasps, sharp intakes of breath, widened eyes. My mother leaned forward, her expression darkening. Vincente’s jaw tightened. Arabelle and Idalia exchanged uneasy glances while Rory stared at me, her grin vanishing, replaced with something… something like relief. Dante’s mouth fell wide, and only Emilio remained the same. But he already knew the truth.
Before anyone could speak, I continued.
“Though Emilio will be the face of things, I am the new head of this family,” I said, my voice leaving no room for argument. “And before anyone starts asking questions, let me make one thing clear—our uncles are coming. All of them. And they are not here for pleasantries and small talk.”
