look at it, champ. One might also say that now everyone loses because we all have to clean up."
Sacha leveled his father with a look. "Aren't you the one who always says that many hands make light work when you guys help me clean my room? Besides, like I said before… it’s Christmas. This is the one time of year when you’re supposed to be nice."
Mona guffawed and scooped Sacha into a hug, finally releasing him with a loud kiss to his cheek. "You tell him, sweetheart. It's Christmas and that's the best time to help each other. Although, I think we should practice kindness throughout the rest of the year too. Hmm. Maybe some New Year’s resolutions are in order." She kissed him again and sighed as if he were the most precious thing in the entire world. Sacha looked bemused as she went on her way, picking up empty cups and napkins as she went.
He rubbed a hand against his cheek as though stunned by her easy affection. I remembered what Darius had shared about his son's childhood before now and could only imagine how much of an adjustment it must've been for him to become part of this big, crazy clan. I didn't know if all Portuguese families were as loving and wonderful this one, but if they were then I wouldn't mind staying right here for as long as Dearest wanted.
It was nice to be part of a loving family. Especially one that made you feel like they'd been waiting all their lives for you to join them.
9
Dearil
We spent hours searching every day but were already ten days into the new year with still no plan to get close to Adrienne Powell. Hell, she could be on vacation in Antarctica for all we knew. The only thing we did know was where she wasn't—there was no sign of her at any of her known addresses and no published itinerary for her speaking engagements before Valentine's Day. Fuck me, but I really needed to find her before then.
There was no way I was waiting another month to get back into action. I loved my family more than anything, but there was such a thing as too much. They were everywhere I turned and I couldn't count the number of times that I'd been cockblocked when someone had knocked on our bedroom door for one inane reason or another. Yeah, I’m ready to kill someone at this point and Adrienne Powell needs killing.
Seemed like the perfect match up to me.
I pushed my chair away from the desk and glared at the laptop after another day of fruitless searching. Nathaniel glanced up from the book he was reading with an understanding smile. That man and his smiles. I firmly believed he had one for every occasion. My favorite was the slightly crooked one that made his new goatee tilt to the left as it moved with the curve of his face.
That was the one he gave when he thought I was being adorable. He didn't know I knew that, but the good thing about the necessity of isolating ourselves here on the estate was that I'd been able to study him and learn his every move. Huh. Maybe not every move. I was sure there were still a lot to discover but I was confident that I had the basics down.
"Knock-knock. Hello, boys." I looked up in surprise when I heard Gil's voice. He strutted into the library with two of his brood and all four of my brothers right behind him. Gil winked and hitched a thumb over his shoulder. "I should come visiting more often. Nobody told me I'd get an entourage if I did."
I snorted and stood to greet him, guiding him over to the couch to take his seat. "What's up? It's nice to see a different face for a change."
Gil fluttered his fingers dismissively. "Please. You only have four brothers. Spend a few weeks holed up with the Blythe brood and you'll be grateful to come from a small family. Especially with a big-ass house like this one."
Nathaniel's eyes widened at the idea of my family being called small. I wanted to laugh at how he'd react when he found out just how big Gil's brood truly was. Not only were there dozens of them, they seemed to share a hive mind during battles. There was a good reason why my brothers neither liked nor trusted them.
I shook my head at Gil. "No thanks.