Page 155 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. Two

“You, of course!”

At that, Mom laughs. “Maybe you should ask permission first.”

“Already did.” Maria turns her phone in my direction. It’s open to her messages with Elliot.

Maria:I know I can’t meet Wren yet, but when I can, I’m taking her on a shopping trip.

Maria:You’re paying.

Elliot:Anything for two of my three favorite women.

Elliot:Don’t tell my mother I said that.

“Ugh, of course you went to Ell. He spoils you.”

“Youspoil her,” Mom corrects, and I don’t miss the gratitude in her eyes. “You spoil both of us.”

“What kind of son and brother would I be if I didn’t?”

“A shitty one I’d enjoy punching in the face,” Maria says with all the confidence in the world. She winks at me before her expression turns serious. “I’m happy for you, Ollie. You’ve found so much love in your life, and I’m glad you get to share it with another person.”

“I’m happy, too. I can’t imagine life without any of them.”

From there, conversation flows easily until our food comes. Every time we get close to the topic of my work, I steer us in another direction. We vowed to each other years ago that we’d never let our families in on our revenge plans. For all my mom’s side comments about murder, I don’t think she’d agree with our methods. She doesn’t even kill spiders, for fuck’s sake.

“Ugh, I’mso full,”Maria groans once she’s finished her food. “But that was delicious. We’ve gotta come back here sometime soon.”

When Mom nods in agreement, I clench my fist under the table.Fuck.This place sets me off so much that it’s making me nauseous.

“You okay, hon?” Mom asks as she nods to my plate. “You didn’t eat much.”

“Just wasn’t as hungry as I thought I was.”

She frowns but doesn’t press it any further.

When our server comes with the bill, I hand them my card before my mom can. She may admit to me spoiling them, but she usually puts up some kind of fight. It’s the only thing I expect after she’s spent most of my life dedicated to making sure me and Maria ended up okay.

“You know you don’t always have to pay, right?” she asks.

“MOM.” Maria glares at her. “Let him pay without harassing him for once.”

Holding up her hands in surrender, Mom sits back in her seat. “I just want to make sure he knows.”

“I know I don’t have to,” I reply. “Iwantto, Mom. You sacrificed so much to take care of us when we were kids. It’s my turn to take care of you.”

“You don’t owe me anything, honey.”

“So stubborn,” Maria mutters under her breath.

As I squeeze Mom’s hand, I can’t help my smile. Both of us inherited at least a little of her stubbornness. “I’m not doing it out of obligation. You deserve it, whether you want to accept it or not. Besides, Elliot and Rhett would kill me if I stopped. Fuck, Wren probably would, too. You’re the only good parent we’ve got between the four of us.”

That makes her laugh, which was my goal. “There isn’t much competition.”

“Mom, there’snocompetition.” I grin. “We’re the luckiest kids in the world because of you.”

Our server comes back with my card and receipt, and once I’ve dealt with them, we stand.

“Thank you, Oliver.” Mom cups my cheek before embracing me. “I couldn’t’ve asked for better kids.”