“And the orange things?”
“Jelly beans.”
Niko snickered. “Apologies. I need wine to prepare my palate.”
I lifted my glass. “I think I’ll have that wine after all.”
While Viktor filled our glasses, we quietly poked at our food. All except Shepherd, who shoveled it in.
Hunter fished out the candy, wiped each one with a napkin, and made a neat little pile next to his plate. Claude scooped out his and gave them to Hunter, who looked like he just won the candy lottery.
Shepherd buttered bread and set it on Hunter’s plate. “Eat some of that.”
When Hunter shook his head defiantly, Shepherd glowered. “You can’t keep skipping meals. I know you’re hungry.”
Wyatt spread his macaroni salad between two pieces of French bread. “Maybe you need to yank that tooth out.”
“Keep it up, Spooky, and I’ll extract your teeth with pliers the next time you get high on those mushrooms.”
“It’ll fall out when it’s ready,” Niko assured him.
Shepherd grumbled something inaudible before gulping down his wine.
“It’s my fault,” Blue confessed. “All that blood on the floor probably scared him. No wonder he doesn’t have an appetite.”
Shepherd laced his fingers together. “I know he needs to learn about what we do and what happens when we get hurt, but maybe he’s too young.”
“Nonsense.” Viktor set down his glass. “If the boy lives here, he must see the dangers. It is the only way he will respect this organization. It is not an ideal situation, but we cannot shield him from the world. If he doesn’t learn the consequences, he will not make good judgment.”
“Decisions,” Gem said quietly.
“Da. He is part of our family now, and there is no guarantee that he won’t overhear things he shouldn’t. We must teach him the importance of secrets. He must also know that there is always a chance one of us may not come home.”
Shepherd finished his drink. “I gotcha, but he’s also a Sensor. He didn’t have his gloves on.”
Viktor nodded. “Understood.”
Claude set another jelly bean on Hunter’s plate. “Maybe we can move this morbid conversation to another night. You’re frightening him.”
“Where’s the girl?” I asked, glancing at the empty booths on the other end of the room.
“Kira is looking after her.” Viktor studied a macaroni noodle on the end of his fork. “That is why we have this wonderful dinner Gem has prepared for us.”
Wyatt snickered.
“The girl would not allow Switch to watch her, so Kira cannot return to her duties,” Viktor continued, deciding to risk a bite of the pasta. “I have given Kira time off for next few days. She will stay with the girl day and night until we have resolved that situation. Until then, we are on our own again.”
“I’ll cook,” Claude volunteered.
“Dishes,” Blue chimed in.
Wyatt set down his half-eaten sandwich. “I’mnotdoing laundry.”
Viktor lifted his glass. “Then you light candles. Shepherd will wash clothes.”
Wyatt’s shoulders sagged. “Wait, I’ll do laundry.”
“Too late,” Shepherd said with a chuckle.
