“I’ll take the responsibility,” the oldest sibling said. “Let them go home.”
“No,” the young girl said. “This was all my idea. You two just can’t tell me no.”
A wry grin spread across the younger brother’s face and warmed my fucking heart. Hell, I was ready to confess to stealing the chickens myself to spare them.
“Here’s what we’re going to do,” Adrian said firmly. “The three of you are going home right now and telling your parents what you did. Detective Markham and I are going to return the chickens to their rightful owners and explain to them why you took the chickens. Rather than pressing charges, I’m going to ask if they’re willing to accept community service instead. I know for a fact most of these are older women who rely on the egg money for their income. That means they could use help caring for the chickens and cleaning their cages.” The three kids looked hopeful for the first time since we arrived. “And whatever else they need help with.”
“Mowing grass,” I suggested.
“Weeding the flowerbeds,” Maegan added.
“Cleaning the gutters,” Adrian tossed out.
“That sounds fair,” the girl said quickly, but I could tell by her brothers’ expressions they weren’t very enthused.
“Better than picking up trash and cleaning sidewalks all over town,” I told them, which was the typical starting point for community service in the county. I had to say it worked pretty well for most kids, especially when they wore those brightly colored vests with giant initials CCJCD on the back identifying them as part of the Carter County Juvenile Correction Department. I saw the dawning of awareness wash over the boys seconds before they vigorously nodded in agreement.
“Should I walk you home?” Maegan asked. “I do have the rest of the afternoon off.”
“It won’t be necessary, Cousin,” the oldest one said. I knew I recognized those freckles.
“See you at the family reunion on Saturday,” the girl said to Maegan.
“You can count on it,” Maegan told them. “I will be calling your parents this evening to make sure you confessed to your activities, and Detective Markham will discuss the arrangements he made with the chickens’ owners and when he expects you to be at their homes to begin work.”
“We’ll tell them when they get home from work, Mae,” the middle sibling said.
I never asked their names, but it wasn’t necessary after seeing the resemblance to Maegan and her familiarity with them. I’d get the names out of my Freckles even if I had to tickle it out of her.
“Adrian, do you mind if I head to the house for a chat with Maegan? I’ll grab Lulu’s puppy crate from the garage so we can transport the chickens back to their owners. I’m hoping the joyful reunions soften them up, and they’ll consider the alternative arrangement to filing official charges against the kids.”
“No problem, partner,” Adrian said, exchanging a look with me which said I could take my time. He saw how unhappy I was when I found out Maegan had decided to intervene.
Maegan knew she was in for an argument, but it didn’t stop her from sliding her fingers between mine and holding my hand. She wasn’t doing it to soften me up or manipulate me; she understood our pending, frank discussion changed nothing between us.
She dropped my hand once we stood inside our home and turned to face me. “Let me have it.”
“That was a risky move, Maegan. You assumed the criminals were as seemingly harmless as the crimes they committed. Your assumption could’ve gotten you hurt. Many people would never harm an animal but wouldn’t hesitate to kill a person.” I saw this firsthand with Axel Washington. The man adored animals but would kill a person who he perceived as a traitor without batting an eyelash. “It reminds me of the night we met when you saw I held a gun in my hand and you charged toward me instead of running.”
“I know, and I am sorry.”
“Promise me you won’t do it again.”
“Um…” She bit her bottom lip and briefly broke eye contact to study her feet before returning her ornery green eyes to mine. “I can only promise that I will try not to do it again.”
“Fair enough.” I hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her tighter against me. “I like those sparkly purple toenails.” I liked the image of her lying naked in bed while I rubbed lotion into her feet so she could return the favor by massaging my cock between her arches and tease my taint with her big toe.
“Later tonight,” she said, reading my mind. “I have something else important to tell you.”
I listened to the story of Theodore Rutledge calling her with mixed feelings. She was so excited for a Bliss heir to step inside Bliss House again, so I was happy for her even though my protective and possessive instincts were triggered. Then she came to the part where he suggested she obtain a background check to make herself feel better about his interest. That relieved the protective part but did nothing to diminish my urge to pound my chest like an ape.
“Forward the email to me as soon as you get it. I’ll run him through the system right away.”
“Thank you, Elijah.”
“You’re welcome, Freckles, but what exactly are you thanking me for?”
“For loving me the way you do. I knew you were mad about me rushing into the woods to play vigilante, but I didn’t fear you because you’d never lay a hand on me in anger. I also knew you wouldn’t like the idea of a strange man in our house but would do everything within your power to alleviate those concerns because it would make me happy. I trust you with my heart, health, and happiness.”
