Theodore (Xavier's Hatchlings #2) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,24

both little boys had planned this.

“The older lady will need a faerie soon, your lordship. I should have thought of it sooner.” He said he’d not thought of it either. “I’ll find her someone that can be calming. Especially now, she doesn’t need a flitter bitter around her.”

“I don’t know what a flitter bitter is, but I’m sure you’re right.” Bubble smiled. “You take care of my family, Bubble, and I’ll be greatly indebted to you.”

“‘Tis my pleasure, sir.”

When Bubble left him, Finn pulled him into his arms and hugged him tightly. It was something he’d not known he needed until just then. Theo felt his eyes fill with tears as his brother told him that he had him. That he loved him. It was perhaps the best news he’d had all day.

Chapter 4

Pem sat on the couch and thought about everything that had happened today. She couldn’t block it out any longer. She had to think this through, or it was going to drive her crazy. It was already depressing the fuck out of her. Looking up when she heard her name, she smiled at Cindi. Her mother-in-law was one of a kind and the only other woman she depended on other than her grandma.

“I have a bit of news for you. You can tell me to go the hell away, and I’ll do it. It’s not terribly important, but just things that I believe that you should know.” Pem leaned back on the couch and regarded Cindi. “Are you all right? You don’t seem as stressed as I thought you’d be. And to be honest with you, I think you’re not nearly as depressed about this as I was afraid. Are you all right?”

“I don’t know if you’re aware of this or not, but you have the greatest sons that have ever been born.” Cindi thanked her. “Theo and his brothers have been pampering me since I got home. Not one of them has left me alone, either. Not until I came in here. You and Xavier should be very proud of yourselves.”

“One can only hope we do a good job when raising our children. When they leave home, you hope you’ve taught them well enough, but let them have enough confidence in themselves, so they make good sound decisions too.” Cindi smiled at her. “Thank you for that. You have no idea how wonderful you’ve made me feel just now.”

“I was being honest. And on that note, I’d like for you to be honest with me, even if you think it will hurt me. I love your sons, all of them. But I’m about to put my foot up one of their asses if they don’t back the fuck off and stop handling me. So, tell me what it is I need to know. Not what you think I should know. All right?” She nodded and smiled at her. “What’s going on?”

“Your cousins are with us. They’re here now to tell you what happened the day they were killed. After this, I’m going to send them to the white room. I should explain to you what that is. It’s a place where there is no color, no people. Not a sound is heard—not their breathing, foot falls, or anything else. They can walk for miles and not get out of the white of it all. It’s a place I send the dead to when they cause trouble.” Pem asked her if they were causing trouble there as well. “Yes.”

It was enough, she supposed. They’d be sent on, but for now, she could ask them about why they’d done such a thing. Why had they decided that killing others in a police station would have gotten them anything but dead?

“Before I talk to them—and I do want to—would you please tell me what the cops found when they went to their home? I’ve asked, and I keep getting fobbed off.” Cindi said she’d be honest with her on that as well. “I would hope you’d be honest with me even if it is bad.”

“It’s bad. The boys, from what we can tell, thought they’d live through what happened. There were stashes of money throughout the house, mostly in their rooms. Also, there were several insurance policies they’d taken out. The police have told Cooper it was the most well laid out plan they’d ever witnessed. Them being as young as they were, he said he feared for the world in general for their expertise as they got