Page 28 of Gratification in Gluttony (Passing Through Cafe #2)

Chapter twenty-eight

Demon Mafia Family

Halfway between sleep and awake, Toni drew lazy designs over Jude’s back as the human lounged across his chest, legs on either side of Toni’s hips, bodies touching from chest to groin. They’d cleaned up, more or less, and Toni had shed the pretty garment so he could cuddle nude with Jude under the covers. There was something comforting and intimate about lying together, naked flesh against naked flesh.

Unfortunately, a phone ringing broke their silent reverie, and without climbing off of Toni’s torso, Jude reached to the side table and picked up the vibrating phone. It was Toni’s and Jude angled the screen so they could both read the caller I.D.

“Flo?” Jude asked.

“My sister,” Toni said, taking the phone from Jude. “If she’s calling ’cause they fucked up my mother’s other breast, I’m throwing myself out the window.”

“Drama queen,” Jude said as he trailed kisses down Toni’s throat, lavishing gentle attention to his gills.

Tilting his head to give Jude better access, Toni answered the phone. “Flo, now’s not a good time.”

“Oh, Toni,” she said, voice thick with tears.

“Here we go,” he mumbled to himself, before he addressed his sister. “What’s wrong now?”

“Nothing,” she sniffled, and he heard the smile through her tears. “Absolutely nothing. The babies are here, and they’re just perfect.”

Toni sat up with a start, catching Jude before he could topple off of him. “The babies are here?”

“They’re so beautiful, Toni. You gotta come see.” Her voice was full of hope and happiness, and it made Toni’s chest ache. “I know last time you got in a row with Ma, but you’ll still come, right?”

“Of course, I’ll come see,” Toni’s voice broke, and he cleared his throat as he rubbed Jude’s arm. “You’re okay, right?”

“Yeah, I’m okay. Had some bleeding, but the doctors said I’ll be fine.”

“You sure it ain’t serious? Where are you? Gluttony Hospital?”

“Uh-huh. Just give your name at reception. And yes, it ain’t serious. I’m doing okay.”

“Okay, don’t worry about a thing. I’ll be there soon.” Toni sniffed and rubbed his eyes. “Flo, you’re a mama.”

Flo sobbed softly. “You’re an uncle again.”

“Aw, come on, don’t cry. If you cry, then I’m gonna cry,” Toni said, eyes burning as he switched to English so Jude could understand as he said, “I can’t ugly-cry in front of Jude again. He might not love me no more.”

Laughing under his breath, Jude kissed Toni’s shoulder as Flo gasped in his ear. “Oh, Toni. You got your Joob back?”

“It’s Jude,” Toni corrected, cupping Jude’s cheek. “And yeah, I got him back.”

Kissing Toni’s palm, Jude smiled as Flo wailed dramatically on the other end of the line. “That’s so wonderful! Mak, our Toni’s in love. He’s got his Jook back.”

“His name is Jude,” Toni corrected again. “It ain’t that hard, Flo.”

“I haven’t slept in thirty-two hours, and I pushed two babies out of my body, you piece of shit,” she sniveled. “Now get your ass over here. And bring me some crisps.”

“Sweet and spicy, not vinegar,” Toni said, and Flo caterwauled again.

“You remembered!”

“Of course, I remember. Now you rest up. I’ll be there soon.”

“You should bring Joog,” she muttered, still sniffling. “Sal will have a fit, but he can suck a bag of dicks for all I care.”

Chuckling through the emotion strangling him, Toni nodded. “Yeah, okay. We’ll be there soon. Just take it easy, okay?”

“Okay. But hurry, Toni. The babies wanna meet their uncle.”

Toni rang off and wiped his eyes. “Flo had her babies.”

“That’s wonderful,” Jude said, wrapping his arms around Toni’s neck. “Is everyone okay?”

“Yeah, I think so. She wants us to come see.”

“Us? She wants me to come?” Jude released Toni and sat back on his heels. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

With a shrug, Toni climbed out of the bed and grabbed clean clothes from the dresser. “I want you to come with me, but I get it if you wanna just chill here. My family is… a lot. They might be total assholes to you.”

“I’ll come with you if you want me to.” Jude tugged his underwear on, retrieving his packer from the side table and securing it before he pulled on his jeans. “I just don’t want to cause problems.”

Toni finagled a shirt over his head as he scoffed. “Fuck them. Flo invited us, and I want you with me.”

“Okay, then let’s go.” Jude took Toni’s hand and squeezed it. “They can be assholes if they want; I’m not that fragile.”

“That’s right.” Toni framed Jude’s face and kissed him firmly. “You’re hard as nails.”

Together, they took the tram to Gluttony Hospital, and though Toni put on a brave face, nerves cramped his stomach as they walked inside. This time, Toni did not forget to stop at the gift shop, and—Flo’s crisps in hand—he gave his name at reception and got his sister’s room number. They took the lift up several floors, and Toni kissed the back of Jude’s hand as the doors slid open.

“I’m sorry if they’re total bitches to you,” he said as they stepped into the hall. “They might say some offensive shit, or—”

“Toni, you don’t have to apologize for them. I’m here for you, not them.” Jude rubbed his upper arms as he nodded.

“I know, but they’re still my family.”

“Your family is who you choose it to be. Your family is at The Passing Through Cafe. Your family is standing right here in this hallway with you.” Jude swallowed thickly as he cupped Toni’s neck. “And sure, maybe part of your family is also through that door, waiting to meet you for the first time. But the rest? They’re just people you used to know.”

“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 in question, 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 Toni and Jude. 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 warm koca to 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 bring that with 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.”

“I will speak exactly how I wish,” Sal said, though he did switch to English as he pinned Jude with a withering stare. “Is there a reason you felt it necessary to bring your friend with you.”

“Boyfriend,” Jude corrected demurely, holding up their twined hands. “In case this wasn’t clear enough.”

Toni snickered. “Yeah, what he said.”

“You always have to make it about you,” Bett snapped. “Flo is in there, after experiencing something life-changing, and you show up here—”

“Flo invited us here,” Toni interrupted.

“Don’t interrupt my wife.” Sal pointed a threatening finger at Toni, pale eyes flashing.

“Oh, come off it, Sal,” Kat snipped from her spot leaning against the wall.

Mins’s husband, Walli, ping-ponged his gaze between the people talking, nervously peeling the label off his water bottle. Toni’s father sat in one of the chairs, hands steepled in front of his chest as he watched everything play out in front of him, not speaking a word.

“...rubbing it in our faces. How do you think it makes us feel?” Bett was saying as Kat scoffed, “You know, for someone advocating for Flo, you sure are talking about yourself a lot, Bett. But that’s not new, is it?”

“...disrespecting this family,” Sal was saying, shaking his head like Toni was a child. “Think of what Pops has built for you. And you waltz in here, entitled, ungrateful.”

“Oh, he’s Pops now, is he? You know, you got a little something on your nose there,” Toni said, pointing vaguely at Sal’s face as his temper heated. “A little brown smudge. Probably from the last eight years you’ve spent with your face shoved so far up my father’s asshole—”

“Toni,” Jude cautioned.

“Don’t you dare,” Bett said. “Sal has been there for this family, a family you abandoned—”

“Abandoned,” Toni laughed harshly. “Here we go with the abandonment. I’m so sorry, Bett, that I didn’t wanna sell my soul to corporate Hellia in exchange for a Ferrari.”

“That was a birthday gift, and you know it,” she snarled.

“Paid for with the family money,” Kat interjected.

“You waltz in here, spouting your gay agenda in front of my impressionable daughter,” Sal said.

“I’m not even gay!” Toni said. “Not that it’d be bad if I was, but I’m not. I’m fucking potsexual.”

“Pansexual,” Jude whispered.

“Thank you,” Toni acknowledged before glaring at Sal. “Pansexual. Educate yourself, you bitch.”

“Don’t call my husband a bitch,” Bett warned.

“Then maybe he should stop being a bitch,” Toni said with a shrug. “I wouldn’t call him one if he wasn’t being one.”

“Say that to my fucking face,” Sal said.

Toni leaned in, retaining unnerving eye contact as he said, “You’re being a bitch, Sal.”

“Okay, maybe the name-calling’s a bit much,” Kat said.

“You’re breaking Ma’s heart, Toni,” Bett said.

“A shame to this family,” Sal said.

And Jude said, “If anyone should be ashamed, it’s all of you! Toni is the most incredible person I’ve ever met, and you all let him walk away because he, what? Doesn’t want to take over the business? You sell makeup; it’s not that deep.”

Bett gasped dramatically, clutching her pearl necklace with one hand as the other covered her mouth.

But Jude wasn’t done. “Or is it the gay agenda you’re so afraid of? For your daughter, of course. Are you blind or something? She loves her Uncle Toni. I don’t even speak your language, but I could see that. And she didn’t give a shit that he was holding my hand.

“Love and acceptance come naturally. Hate is taught.” Jude glowered at Sal, cheeks flushed with passion. “I think your fragile masculinity and bigotry is a much bigger threat to her than whether or not Toni likes to fuck me.”

To be honest, Toni wanted to fuck him right now, because unholy shit, he was so sexy when he burned with righteous fury. Of course, Toni’s lust was derailed when Sal took a threatening step toward Jude, pointing a sharp-nailed finger at him.

“Don’t you talk about my daughter, you fucking slug!”

And that was the moment Toni decided to murder his brother-in-law. Hari would help him hide the body, he was sure of it.

“Call him a slug one more time, and I’ll rearrange you until your insides are on your outsides,” Toni said through gritted teeth.

Sal jutted his chin. “You wanna go? Let’s fucking go!”

“Enough,” Marlyn Maryno said, voice low and almost bored, and the room fell silent. With a deep inhale, Toni’s father rose to his feet, black eyes cutting across the room, settling on each of them in turn. He finished on Jude, and his head cocked minutely in curiosity.

Then he turned to Sal, who immediately ducked his head in deference. “Sal, you do not speak for this family. I suggest you remember that.”

To Jude he said, “Your loyalty is admirable, even if it is misplaced, but I do not abide disrespect.”

Jude scoffed. “Respect is earned; you can’t demand it.”

Everyone stilled. Except Toni. He snorted, then covered it with a cough, hating how uncomfortably tight his jeans had gotten since Jude decided to be a badass and defend Toni’s honor in front of his family.

“You are so hot right now. I’m so gonna do you later,” he whispered, and Jude winked at him.

“Eh, I think I’ll do you later, actually.”

“No problem. That’s a-okay by me, baby,” Toni said with a salacious grin.

“And you,” Marlyn Maryno said, black eyes landing on Toni. “You come in here on the day my daughter gives birth to my grandbabies, and you bring this outsider with you.”

“He’s not an outsider,” Toni said, releasing Jude’s hand to wrap his arm around him instead, pulling him into his side. “He’s mine, and I love him. And Flo invited us both to share in this with her. And not even you, Pop, can stand in the way of that.”

“He’s right,” Flo said, and everyone turned to the door to her hospital room. She was wrapped in a fluffy bathrobe, her feet in fuzzy slippers. Her indigo hair was piled atop her head, several strands loose and framing her tired but contented face. “I invited Toni because he’s my brother, and he deserves to be here, same as all of you. And I told him to bring Joom, too.”

“Jude,” Toni corrected quietly, cowering away from the fierce glare she sent him.

“But it ain’t right,” Sal said, and Flo snorted.

“Shut your mouth, Sal. You talk too much.” She pointed at Kat. “Kat’s been a lesbo for three months, and I haven’t heard fuck-all from you about it because ‘lesbians are hot’, right?”

“You’re a lesbian?” Toni demanded.

Kat shrugged. “So it would seem.”

“You didn’t know?” Jude asked, and Toni rounded on him.

“You did?”

Jude shrugged. “I mean, not that I’m going to assume someone’s sexuality, but—” He gestured toward Kat. “She’s giving hella dyke vibes.”

“Thanks,” Kat said with a smile that Jude returned.

“I was a dyke for a while, so I get it,” he said, and Kat furrowed her brow as she studied him more closely.

“Lesbians are hot?” Bett growled, and Sal somehow paled further.

“I never said that, darling.”

“Toni went his own way, but he’s happy,” Flo said as she gingerly stepped back into her room, opening the door in invitation. “That should be all that matters, even if he is a bit of a poof.”

“Ah, Flo, you got such a way with words,” Toni said dryly, and Flo flipped him off.

Hiding his snicker in Toni’s side, Jude wrapped his arms around his waist. “I like that you’re a poof,” he said quietly, and Toni kissed his brow.

“Me too.”

“Now, get your stupid ass over here and meet your niblings. And, Toni”—Flo paused, leveling him with a stare that instilled the kind of terror only an older sister could—“deities help you, if you forgot my crisps.”

“I got them right here.” Toni lifted the bag of crisps as he and Jude crossed the waiting room. “Don’t get your gills in a twist.”

Passing his father, Toni met his blank gaze fleetingly, hating the small part of him that still yearned for his father’s love and acceptance. He didn’t need it, though. Not anymore. Jude had been right; Toni had a family, and Marlyn Maryno was simply a man he used to know.

As they entered Flo’s birthing room, Toni let Jude go so he could envelope his sister in a hug. He held her tight, and she fisted her hands in the back of his shirt as she buried her face in his chest. He felt her silent tears wet his shirt, and he may have shed a few himself.

But when they parted, Toni smiled down at her. “Hey, sis, how you doing?”

“Never better,” she said as he patted his cheek. “Now give me my crisps.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He kissed her forehead before he helped her back to bed, ignoring her annoyed complaints of, “I had babies; I didn’t die,” and “Stop with the fussing. I’m getting enough of it from Mak, I don’t need it from you too.”

Toni’s mother sat on the loveseat near the window, a bundle in her arms, black eyes studying Jude guardedly. Mak was holding what Toni assumed was the second baby, though he could only see blankets. Jude hovered near the door, like he wasn’t sure if he should be in the room or not.

When Toni waved him closer, Jude approached, taking Toni’s hand as Toni said, “Flo, this is Jude, my human. Jude, this is my sister, Flo, and her husband, Mak.”

Mak nodded in silent greeting, and Jude followed suit.

Nerves exploded in his stomach once more as he met his mother’s watery gaze. “Hey, Ma. This is—”

“Jude, yes,” his mother said, cocking her head to scrutinize him more closely. “I heard you the first time. I may be getting older, but my hearing is as good as ever, I’ll have you know.”

Toni huffed, half in amusement, half in exasperation. “Right, well, Jude, this is my mother, Goldi Maryno.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Jude said politely, if not a bit stiff.

“Charmed, I’m sure,” Goldi said with a haughty smirk. “I see why you caught Toni’s eye. You’re very exotic looking, not like the usual humans I see.”

And Toni groaned. “Ma, you can’t say that. That’s, like, offensive and shit.”

“Oh no, did I do a speciesism? I’m sorry, but how am I supposed to know these things?” she said indignantly. “You young kids are always changing what words are or aren’t offensive. I can’t keep up. I meant it as a compliment.”

“Still,” Toni said, cringing apologetically at Jude.

“I don’t know why you’re mad at me,” Goldi sniffed as she stood and placed the baby she was holding in Flo’s arms. “I’ve been a wreck all day, caring for your sister as she brought about the miracle of life. My poor nerves can’t take much more.”

“It’s fine,” Jude dismissed, giving Toni’s hand a squeeze in reassurance when he mouthed a sorry .

“Go get yourself a coffee, Ma,” Flo said, and Goldi nodded, placing a kiss on Flo’s head before she made to leave.

She stopped in front of Toni and Jude, reaching up to pat Toni’s cheek. “Good to see you, baby. Come by for lunch sometime.” She glanced at Jude in uncertainty, before offering a tiny smile. “Bring your human, if you like.”

Toni didn’t know if that would happen, but he gave her a noncommittal head wobble. “Sure, Ma.”

With one last pat to Toni’s cheek, Goldi took her leave, slipping out of the doors to join the rest of the family. Toni watched until she disappeared, then blew out a heavy breath.

“C’mere, Toni,” Flo said, and Toni sat down at the edge of his sister’s bed to peer down at the baby in her arms. “This here is Bas, after Mak’s late father. He came into the world screaming. The doctor said she’d never heard such healthy lungs.”

The little boy was a lighter blue than Flo and Toni, with almost a purplish hue to his light stripes. “Well, would you look at him? Hey, Bas.”

“He’s so small,” Jude said, peering over Toni’s shoulder.

“Are human babies bigger?” Flo asked with an expression of alarm.

“Usually, yes,” Jude said, and she made a distressed noise.

“Your poor women,” she said, before she shook her head and held the baby out to Jude. “Would you like to hold him?”

For a moment, Jude’s eyes widened in panic before he sputtered, “O-okay.”

Toni’s chest ached beautifully as he watched Flo set little Bas in Jude’s arms. Jude smiled down at the baby, rocking him back and forth.

Mak placed the second baby in Flo’s arms, and Toni peered down at Bas’s twin. “She didn’t cry at all,” Flo said as she touched the baby’s chubby cheek. “She was born, and her eyes were so big. She was already searching around her little world, fearless.”

Eyes burning with fresh tears, Toni touched the tip of her little nose with his finger. “She’s beautiful, Flo.”

“Her name’s Toni,” Flo said, and Toni’s heart ground to halt, “because she’s gonna be brave just like you.”

“Don’t say that.” Toni shook his head as a hot tear slid down his cheek. “Come on, Flo, don’t do this to me.”

She was crying in earnest now, her black eyes so soft. “You’re my baby brother, Toni, but if my little girl lives her life with even half the courage you do, then I’m going to be one proud mother.”

“Fuck me,” Toni said as he burst into tears, leaning to press his forehead to Flo’s. “You know I’m an ugly crier.”

“We’re all ugly criers,” Flo said, sending Jude an apologetic smile. “It runs in the family, you know?”

Jude chuckled, eyes glossy as he transferred Bas back to his father. Mak cradled his son close in one arm and ran his hand over Flo’s hair with the other. Toni pressed his lips to Flo’s head.

“I’m so proud of you, you know that?” Toni sniffled against her brow.

“I know I haven’t always done right by you,” she sobbed softly. “But I’m gonna be better, okay?”

“Okay. Me too,” Toni promised. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Flo said as she held out his niece. “Here. Hold her.”

Crying like a child, Toni traced the little girl’s cheeks and nose. “She’s so beautiful, Flo. Look, Jude, her name’s Toni. Can you believe that?”

Jude trailed kisses from Toni’s temple to his jaw. “It’s wonderful.”

With a shuddering breath, Toni rested his head on Jude’s chest as he stood over them, hand running through Toni’s hair. Toni cradled his niece close with one arm, reaching out with his free hand to twine his fingers with his sister’s.

This was family too. Or at least, it was the healing start to one. He knew the people waiting outside that door may never fully come around the way Flo had, but that was okay. He had his chosen family at the cafe, and he had his sister and his niblings. And he had Jude.

What more could he ever want?