“Fifteenth-century, from what I could tell,” Kendall said. “You’d think they’d be dull, but Roger kept them sharp.”
“You are not playing with swords,” Callie said.
Philly arched an eyebrow at his wife. “Don’t even pretend you don’t like playing with swords, woman.”
“I like playing with one specific sword, which is why the possessor of that sword will not be playing with large, sharp, heavy fifteenth-century swords,” she retorted.
Helia had expected Callie to shut down her husband’s trip down double-entendre lane, and Callie’s response so surprised her she barked out a laugh. Along with most of the others in the room. Even Philly chuckled, pulling his wife against his side and kissing her temple before whispering something in her ear that had her blushing.
“How many floors are there?” Mantis asked, bringing the room back to the task at hand.
“Three and the basement,” Collin answered.
“And an extra floor on the towers,” Kendall said.
“And an extra floor on the towers,” Collin repeated.
Mantis nodded his head in thought, then rose. “Okay, here’s how it’s going to go. Marley and Scipio, you’re on the passageways. Hawkeye and Philly, you’re with Monk on the third floor and towers. Viper, Lovell, and Stein, you’re on the second. Stone and North, you’re on this floor. I’ll take the basement with Dulcie.”
“What about Leo?” Kendall asked.
“I’ll grab an office and focus on continuing the background work,” he said. “We passed a few on our way in, any preference for which I use?” he asked Collin, who shook his head.
A beat later, everyone, well, all the men, dissolved into their assigned tasks, leaving the women in the tasting room. A few cast worried looks as the brothers left, but most wandered over to the table and took seats, leaving the couch empty for Helia to stretch out again.
“Oh, my favorite,” Juliana said, pointing to the board on the table as she took the seat Dulcie vacated. “Anyone up for a game?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Kendall watched Collin, Dulcie, and the others disappear down hallways. She didn’t want to give too much thought yet to the reality that they’d be her de facto family from now on. They seemed like good enough people—Collin was tight with them, and she liked Collin. And she liked how Mantis led the group; he didn’t dictate or order anyone about. Sure, he’d divvied up the teams and proposed the strategy, but if someone objected, she got the feeling he would have listened.
Thinking of them as anything more than Collin’s brothers made her mom’s death more real, though. And while she knew it was real, it wasn’t real-real. Not yet.
Not ready to let her mind travel any further down that path, she turned her attention to the women gathering around her. They were easier to think about than reality. Even if a little intimidating. They all looked so put together. Not high-maintenance, just grounded. Confident.
Juliana, the librarian at the presidential library. Not a job that interested Kendall, but it was pretty cool. The curvy blond also had a nice smile. The kind you’d expect from the girl next door, only Kendall got the sense there was more to Juliana than that. And she and Stone had brought their dog, Sherman, too.She’d never seen anything like the huge animal who’d come over to her as soon as he entered the castle, wrapped his wiggly body around hers, licked her hand, then darted off. She didn’t know where he’d gone, but she hoped he’d come back. She’d never had a pet before and had always secretly wanted one. She’d never told her mother that, though. She hadn’t wanted to make her feel guilty for not giving her one.
Then there was Lina. Dulcie had given her the lowdown on all the women while they’d waited for Collin and Helia to get back from the hospital. She was a CPA now, which Kendall didn’t think was at all interesting, but she’d been a CIA agent early in her career. Her mom and grandfather, also both spies, had trained her from the cradle. Kendall didn’t know what that meant, but it sounded kind of cool.
Callie had surprised her. Tall and elegant, all polished and put together with her perfect hair and smooth dark skin that held not a single flaw. Wearing fitted jeans, tall boots, and a deep green ribbed sweater, she could be in an ad for a ski resort. Dulcie told her that she was ex-FBI and now worked for HICC with Leo, but Kendall hadn’t pictured someone so, well, sophisticated. Although shehadmade that remark about swords. And while eww, she had to admit, it was funny. And unexpected.
The twins were the youngest. Kendall didn’t know by how much, but Dulcie had mentioned they were in their twenties. They were the granddaughters of a former US president—a real frickin’ president. And they owned their own business. A successful one if Dulcie hadn’t exaggerated. A shop that carried outdoor gear and a tour company that led guided hikes, camping trips, and other outdoor adventures. Kendall had never been hiking before, not intentionally, and thought she might like seeing Mystery Lake, her new home, through their eyes.
Her gaze traveled to Helia lying on the couch and lingered there. Dulcie, Collin, and even Hawkeye, who’d checked her vitals almost immediately after meeting her, all said she’d be fine, but she was pale. And barely keeping her eyes open. She knew Helia better than the others, but they’d still only met a few days ago. Even so, when Collin had called from the hospital, well, Kendall hadn’t liked that. Hadn’t liked the surge of emotion she’d felt. She didn’t know if it had all been because of Helia or because of, well, everything. But it had made her feel twitchy and as though she was about to burst into tears. Dulcie had told her emotions were good and normal. He might be right, but that didn’t mean she had to like them.
“Oh, my favorite,” Juliana said, pointing to the board on the table as she took the seat Dulcie vacated. “Anyone up for a game?”
Helia shook her head and pulled her blanket up over her shoulder, but the other women took seats around the table.
“I love this game. Even when I lose, I win because I learn things,” Juliana said. “Weird things, usually, but hey, what is life without a little weird. Can I start again?” she asked, tapping one of the round pie-shaped game pieces, nearly filled with colorful wedges. It took Kendall a second to realize she was asking her, and she nodded.
“Why did the guys leave you all behind?” Kendall blurted out. “I mean, I didn’t mean, not that you shouldn’t be here. Or that I don’t want you here…” she stammered, blushing for the first time in her life. Wow, two minutes with this new family and already she’d fucked it up. They were going to think she was some bratty kid who didn’t want their company.
Lina chuckled. “Nice, we have a budding feminist on our hands, ladies. Kendall, I’m going to like you.”
Kendall’s body sagged in relief, grateful Lina understood her poorly worded question. She offered a tentative smile. “It seems,I don’t know, weird. They obviously respect you all, and it’s not like they know the castle better than you since none of you have been here before.”
“And it’s weird that they left the little women behind?” Juliana finished. Kendall nodded.
