Damaged 2 (Damaged #2)(18)
Author: H.M. Ward

What a dick. It’s like he’s trying to start a fight with me on purpose. I redirect my barb with a comment that should shut him up. "I see you messed things up with Avery. Smooth move, Ferro." I’m not calling him by his first name to his face. It feels too intimate, as if I actually like him or something.

I smile at Peter, who is glaring at Sean. Sean looks perfectly civil, but everyone knows it’s a facade.

Sean’s voice is flat. "She had to work."

I blink at him, shocked. Work means more clients, which means she’s with another guy right now. Avery didn’t want another guy; she wanted Sean. I shouldn’t say it, but I can’t help it. "What did you do?" I barely know Avery, but I feel so bad for her. Sean doesn’t bother answering me, not that I thought he would. "She deserves better."

"Agreed." Sean’s single word packs a punch, and I have no sharp retort. He doesn’t look at me for the rest of the meal. The man is an enigma with a dash of psycho.

The Ferros have a tradition of requiring all the children to be seated first, prior to their parents. Peter told me that it’s supposed to promote family unity or something like that. I’m surprised that Sean is here with us. He’s been such a bastard that I can’t imagine him bending to anyone’s wishes. Jonathan leans forward with both his elbows on the table and looks completely bored. Maybe that kid is like a high-strung collie and prefers running over sitting. I wonder what his story is, what the guy did to piss off his entire family because Jon seems utterly calm considering his mother is going to throttle him at any moment. Then again, the despondent, emotionally disconnected thing seems to be a Ferro trait. All three of them have it to some extent, even Peter. As for Jon and Sean, that’s where the similarities stop—well, except for the heartbreak stamp plastered across their foreheads. I wonder if Sean was given a warm greeting like Peter. If so, I didn’t see it.

A few moments after we are seated, the patriarch enters the room. Mr. Ferro is well past his prime with silvery hair and a broad smile on his face. Fit isn’t the right word to describe him, but he’s not overweight either. To make matters more interesting, there’s a woman on his arm who is close to my age. She’s wearing a clingy silver dress that dips insanely low, showing off very ample cl**vage. She smiles at the boys and waves the tips of her fingers at everyone except me.

Jonathan mirrors her little wave and winks, but the other guys ignore her as if she’ll be gone in a week. I watch Jon straighten as his father walks into the room. At first I think it’s out of respect, but the way Jon’s eyes light up when he sees the mistress makes me wonder if the youngest Ferro is crazy enough to steal his father’s girlfriend. Damn, and I thought my family is messed up. Where is Mrs. Ferro, and why does she put up with this crap? I’d like to ask that question, but I don’t. Instead I sit still with a polite smile on my face and wonder why Peter came back here.

When Mr. Ferro sits down and spies Sean, he’s surprised, but when he glances at Peter, he’s stunned. His shocked features instantly morph into a huge smile. Mr. Ferro rises, steps away from Boobie Barbie, and rounds the table. Just as Peter stands up, Mr. Ferro gives him a bear hug similar to the one Jon gave earlier. "Pete! It’s so good to see you!"

His dad shoots out more questions than Jon. Peter doesn’t actually answer any of them. Instead he just smiles and nods. When his father glances at me, Peter takes that as his cue for the introduction.

"Dad, this is Sidney Colleli." Peter sweeps his hand in my direction. Sean completely ignores the introduction and keeps tapping away at the screen on his phone. He took it out as soon as he sat down. I glance at Jon quickly and get a flirtatious nod, complete with charming smile.

Mr. Ferro has an impressed look on his face. "So you’re the woman who brought my son back to the land of the living?" He says it like I did something miraculous, like Peter was six feet under. Everyone is looking at me, Sean included.

Was Peter really that far gone? He didn’t seem like it when I met him. I knew he was hurting, but the shock on everyone’s faces to see Peter here and happy isn’t lost on me. "He’s a good man."

Sean sounds bored, like my words will make him fall over and go comatose. "Of course he is. He’s a Ferro."

"And you!" Mr. Ferro gives Sean a severe look. "You missed your mother’s birthday and every major holiday in between."

"My apologies," Sean replies, sounding completely apathetic. "I’ve been working." Sean is wearing a black sweater that looks to be made of silk and a pair of dark jeans. There are boots on his feet, and his hair is messier than usual. It’s a strong contrast between the suit he wore last night.

His father is obviously irritated with Sean. He’s about to say something when another voice cuts him off.

"Well, well. Both my prodigal sons have returned." An older woman with golden hair appears. It’s cut short and tapered to her head in a fashionable style. The cold depths of her eyes make her appear soulless. There’s no light on her face. Maybe she adopted Jonathan, because he’s still smirking at the mistress like he plans on hitting on her after lunch.

Mrs. Ferro walks over to Peter slowly, assessing him. A cornflower-blue suit makes her appear regal and utterly proper.

Mr. Ferro’s voice is civil, but there’s a lot of tension, as if there are decades of unspoken words and worries. "Constance."

Mrs. Ferro inclines her head, but that’s all. She walks past Peter without a second look and takes the seat at the head of the table. Mr. Ferro sits sandwiched between his wife and his arm candy. Every single one of them acts like this is totally normal. My mother would have stabbed my dad with the salad fork if he cheated on her, never mind flaunting some bombshell and bringing her to lunch at our house. What the hell? I glance at Sean, but even he fails to comment on it. Oh my God, if this is normal, no wonder they’re so messed up. The tension is so thick that it’s choking me.

Mrs. Ferro looks up at me after placing her napkin on her lap. "Who are you?"

I glance at Peter. His mother is a scary woman. Her question sounds more like an invitation to leave. "I’m Peter’s girlfriend." I can say that, right? It sounds stupid, but I suppose it’s true.

Peter introduces me and is uncharacteristically quiet. His mother looks down her nose from across the table. "I suppose you’re here to plead with me, then."

I glance at Peter and then Sean. Jon is smiling like everything is terribly exciting. I shake my head and correct her. "No, I’m not. Actually we’re on our way to see my mother."

"Oh, so you’re visiting other people’s mothers, just not your own?" Her words are tack-sharp. Peter doesn’t look up at her. God, no wonder why both Sean and Peter ran fast and far. The woman is horrible. She’s an emotional black hole and anyone sitting next to her will be sucked dry. I glance at Mr. Ferro, wondering if that’s why he’s tethered to the hot chick.

I can’t leave it alone. I know I should—Peter’s mom has every right to be upset that her son ran off—but it’s not like that. "My mother’s dying, Mrs. Ferro. Peter wouldn’t let me make the drive alone."

Mrs. Ferro stands. Without an explanation, she leaves the table and doesn’t look back. Peter tells me that he’ll be right back and follows after her.

Sean smirks. "Bravo. You pissed her off in less than five minutes. I don’t think I’ve made her leave a room that quickly. And to think, I wasted all that time coming up with snarky remarks for number forty-seven down there. Apparently we just needed you."

"She said it like we’re taking a joy ride to Atlantic City. There are other things going on." My throat is tight. I’m not explaining myself to him. "Excuse me." I get up and walk away from the table. I turn down a hallway and keep walking and have no idea where I’m going.

Footfalls race up behind me. Jonathan appears, breathing a little too hard as if he ran after me. "You saved my ass back there. She’s been wanting to chew me out since I got home. Hey, are you okay?"

I nod, even though I’m not. By tonight, I’ll be home arguing with my own mother. "I’m fine."

"Come on. Peter’s this way." Jon explains how lunch probably looked really weird since his father brought his mistress. "He does it to piss Mom off, but the woman never reacts. It’s like she’s dead inside. Dad on the other hand needs a plaything. I’m not making excuses for him. I mean, if a guy gets married he should deal with it. That’s why I’m never saying any vows like that." He physically shudders as if marriage were a fate worse than death. "It gets extra interesting around the holidays. I try to steer clear of this place, but I’m sure you heard since my actions precede me—I’m the reckless son." He looks over at me and grins. "Actually, I’m not reckless at all, but none of them can tell because they’re all dead inside. I know you met Sean—case in point. The guy’s a vampire, sucking out souls from California to New York Island." He grins and sings the last few words.

"I think vampires suck blood."

"Same difference. He’s heartless and cold, plus the song makes him sound like a hippie vampire, which is amusing. There’s some juxtaposition going on there." He’s trying to make me smile, but my guts have already twisted into knots.

I offer a nervous smile as we turn down another corridor. "So your parents—they’re not divorced?"

"The D word, no. Mom hasn’t wanted one. She just tolerates whatever shit my dad pulls and doesn’t say anything. Dad has more money if he stays with Mom. As long as the mistress doesn’t care, things are pretty quiet. With Sean and Pete gone, there’s not much to do around here."

"Stop spilling family business to a stranger, Jon." Sean is walking swiftly toward us.

"Sean, stop being an a**hole. You’ve seen the way Pete looks at her—"

"I have. Go finish lunch." Sean stares down his brother, until Jon shakes his head and turns away.

I watch Jon walk down the hallway. His gait is so similar to Peter’s, but different as well. Sean calls after him. "I heard what you did, by the way. I’ll speak with you later."

Jon turns around with a huge smile on his face. "It’s not open for discussion, bro. It’s a done deal." Jon laughs and hurries off before Sean can say anything else.

His steely gaze cuts over to me. "I have what Peter needed. There’s no point in lingering. Let’s get going."

I wonder what they needed, but I don’t ask. I just nod and walk with him to the front of the building. When we step outside, the turkey is waiting for me, perched on the bottom of the railing. My car has been pulled around and is in the center of the driveway.

"Are you throwing me out?"

Sean laughs lightly. "No, I’m making it easier for you to leave. There’s a difference."

"No, there isn’t, and you’re an a**hole."

"It’s a matter of perspective. Get going. Peter and I will be along shortly."

He wants me to leave without Peter? Sean opens the driver’s side door. The turkey jumps into the backseat and settles into his regular position. "Yeah, I’m not leaving without him."

Sean looks agitated. "Perhaps I could persuade you?"

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It means I can give you anything you could possibly want to drive away right now and never come back. Name your price." Sean’s voice is utterly detached. He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a checkbook. I say nothing. Sean scribbles something and rips out the check, handing it to me.