Devil May Cry: Volume 1 (OFFICIAL NOVEL)

Phase 2: Part 1

"Hey! Don't just gobble it all up, Tony! There's plenty of seconds!"

An affronted shriek erupted from across the small table.

Jessica had the officious nature of an oldest child, tempered by the innocence of her fifteen years. Her plump cheeks and chestnut curls reminded Tony of her father.

"But, Princess, I'm starving!" Tony yelled back. "I paid for the groceries. Keep bringing them out! I can eat everything you've got!"

"I'm gonna eat, too!" squealed Tiki, perched on Tony's leg. Nesty gurgled with delight on his other knee.

Grue watched the unfolding scene with horror. Tony had already scarfed down seven plates of doria. His youngest two daughters followed Tony's example, stuffing themselves silly while bouncing on Tony's knees.

"Tiki! Stop making a mess. Come help me out a little." Jessica cried.

But her sister was having none of it. "I'm eating with Tony!"

"Abba goo!" Nesty concurred.

Tony looked at Tiki with mock reproach. "When you have a man of my caliber, shouldn't you help out?" He turned his attention to Nesty, who was trying to scale his head. "My hair isn't for eating!"

Grue tried to mask his smile. "Hey, you're eating my portion!"

"I'm the guest here," Tony shot back. "Don't be so mean! Okay, Nesty. Open up!" He spooned some doria into her mouth.

"What about me?" wailed Tiki. "Feed me!"

"Good grief." Grue sank his head into his hands. "Every single time you come over, this place turns into a madhouse, Tony."

Jessica brought her father a steaming mug of coffee. She was a plain girl, but seemed to know how to make people feel at ease. "Everyone loves Tony," she pointed out.

"Everyone?" Grue smiled at his daughter coyly, one eyebrow raised. "I thought your cheeks were looking rosy this evening."

"I..." Jessica was mortified. "Don't say such stupid things."

She set the mug down and fled into the safety of the kitchen to finish the next batch of doria.

The dining room's bustle eventually faded when the younger girls rushed off to do whatever young girls do. Jessica carried a pile of dishes into the kitchen. Tony and Grue moved into the living room and slumped into a pair of old leather chairs.

"Damn," said Tony. "Does eating dinner always have to be such a production?"

"They see you as one of them. You're just a kid at heart."

Tony sighed. "Give me a break. But it's good. Jessica's cooking isn't completely repulsive. And I like being here."

"As long as you like it here, that's the important thing." Grue lit a cigarette, fanning the smoke away from Tony. "It's hard for Jessica. She should be out there playing with her friends, but since my wife passed away, she's had to step in and run the household. I can't thank her enough."

"And in our business, you can't just go around shopping for another wife."

Grue drew close to his friend, smiling mischievously. "That was why I had something to ask you."

Tony blinked. "Hey! I'm not the marrying kind."

"Shut up and listen. I was just thinking that if you have some time, maybe you can take Jessica to the movies or something."

Tony bolted upright in bewilderment. "What? Me?"

"Yes, you. She really seems to like you, you know."

"A date? With a kid? I didn't know paying you back for dinner would be so involved."