Jer lifted his head. “Oh you mean how Barrett burned rice tonight and none of us are going to be able to cook except you, ever?”
I rolled my eyes at him. “Sure, that’s exactly what I meant.”
“I will conquer the rice.” Barrett laughed.
“We can talk about it.” Jeremy sighed. “I mean we probably should. A guy with a gun came to kill us. Same guy who took my brother and killed some kids. It’s really bad. I am not even sure how to begin to process it. How about the rest of you?”
The door opened and closed. We all jolted. Had anyone else heard a car arrive? We needed to get a little bit better at paying attention to things. Otherwise, there was always the possibility of another guy with a gun coming in. Or maybe I was just really, really paranoid right now.
Eric, Rosalind, and Stephen came in. The latter winked at us and walked past us into the kitchen. “Did you burn something in here?”
Barrett laughed. “I can’t cook.”
“That’s okay, sweetheart.” Rosalind walked over and kissed Barrett’s cheek. “We can get you someone to do that if you want.”
He held up his hands. “I want to be able to do basic things so Alatheia isn’t always thinking she has to do them because we are otherwise incompetent.”
“I don’t think you’re incompetent.” I hadn’t known he felt that way. “There’s no need for you to worry. I like doing things around the house. I mean I might not like to be picking up constantly but anyway, I’m rambling.”
I tended to feel like an idiot in front of their family. I tried not to but there it was. The rambling discomfort rearing its ugly head. It might be better if I just stayed quiet like I used to do.
Rosalind bent over the couch. “Don’t pick up after them.”
“Can I talk to you?” Phoenix rose, addressing his biological father who startled before he nodded. “In private?”
“Sure.” Eric ran a hand through his hair. “Let’s ah… go into the back of the house.”
Rosalind stared at them, her face unreadable. She waited until they had stepped back before she turned to the rest of us. “What is that about?”
“Don’t worry.” Jeremy smiled at his mother. “We all know he’ll tell you in the car. How is Kit?”
She clapped her hands together. “He is getting to go home, and we have decided to go back to the city. Eric really needs to get back to work, and it’ll be good for all of us. I hoped that you would all come.” She looked over her shoulder. “I know you are avoiding Alatheia’s family, but they aren’t there currently, I don’t think. Do you hear a car?”
Barrett got to his feet. “We really need to get some security cameras in here. Gran’s place had it and the main house does. Why don’t we have cameras in here?”
“Why would the guest house need security?” Daniel stepped into the house. “Who’s here?”
Rosalind shook her head. “I don’t recognize the car.”
I turned toward the window, heart thrumming—I really didn’t want strangers here right then—and caught sight of the black car as it glided up the gravel drive. The paint was so glossy it mirrored the sky, each raindrop scattering across its polished hood in silver beads. Some of it even looked like it might be changing to snow. Even from a distance, the low, predatory shape and the subtle growl of the engine spoke of money—old money, the kind that didn’t flash but whispered. Meanly. Chrome trim winked as the car slowed, tires barely crunching. It was the sort of car you saw in magazines, never expecting it to actually pull up to your house, unless, of course, you were the Lents, and I realized I was holding my breath as it stopped just beyond the porch.
“Shit.” Rosalind swore, the word sounding contrary to her sweet, genteel accent. But nothing about Rosalind was exactly what it seemed. That might be her best quality. “It’s Murial Monk.”
It was a good thing I was sitting because I wasn’t sure if my quaking knees wouldn’t have given out just at the sound of her name. “How did she find us?”
“Who’s here?” Phoenix came back in with a smiling Eric.
“Murial.” Jules stood. “Come on. She doesn’t catch you sitting. Power move. On your feet.”
“It’s her cousin.” Barrett crossed in front of me to the door.
“Sure. But even vipers have cousins.” Jeremy sighed.
I blinked. No. I couldn’t get caught in that thing Jer just said. I had to focus on that and not wonder if vipers had cousins.
The doorbell rang and Barrett pulled the door open. I wouldn’t want him to ever look at me with as much disdain as he just sent Murial Monk.
“What a surprise.” Rosalind stepped forward, her smile bright and her gaze wary. I sort of expected that was the case with my cousin and a lot of people. For her part, Murial stared around the room, slowly, as though she had no reason to hurry and could simply stand and make people wait for her as long as she wanted.
