“What’s evisceration?”AJ asked.
Bri winced.“Sorry, he got away from me.I’ll go grab Deviand we’ll start bedtime rituals.”
“It means Daisy’s boyfriend is going to remove Lucas’sbowels,” Rani explained.
Daisy winced.
“I think he probably needs those,” AJ countered.“But itwould also be cool.”
“Hey, I’m not the only one.”Lucas seemed to realize all thekids were now looking at him.
“My mom says you’re a walking venral disease,” Randproclaimed.“What does that mean?”
Gabe snorted.“It’s venereal, and it’s accurate.”
“Dude, you could show some support.”Lucas sent his friend a“what the hell, man” look.
Hunter was chuckling.“Hey, Dais, hope I didn’t weird youout.I mostly came to watch them make idiots of themselves.Although you shouldknow you look good, girl.”
“Do you want to keep your eyeballs in their sockets, boy?”Her da had his hands on his hips, righteous indignation on his face.“Natemight be okay with you looking at her, but I’m not.”
Nate grinned.“Which is why I’m okay with it.”
Men.Daisy sighed and turned to her charges.“Boys, it’stime for teeth brushing.If you’re good, I’ll let my da tell you a story abouthow he started a small land war in Africa once.”
Things were going to be okay.Daisy carried Rani through thehallway toward the nursery.The older boys had sleeping bags they would lay outin the playroom, but she still put Rani in the nursery.She told her it was soshe could watch over the littles, but it was mostly because Rani would talk allnight to the boys about insect invasions and how bread was yeast and it wasalso an animal so it might eat them from the inside.
Weird kid.
Sweet kid.
Rani laid her head on Daisy’s shoulder.The nursery wasilluminated with night-lights, giving the place a glow.
Bri stood in the middle of the room.“I can’t find Devi.”
Daisy sighed and set Rani on her feet.“Hey, sweetie.Youget into your PJs with Miss Bri and I’ll be back to read you a story.”She gaveRani a hug before turning back to Bri.“She’s probably sitting on the back stepregretting all of her life decisions.She thinks if she’d gone into the Armyinstead of college she might be in a better place.That better place beingcloser to Zach.You know she feels like the odd one out in her family eventhough Aunt Erin was thrilled she went to college.”
“Talk to her,” Bri said, holding Rani’s hand.“I’ll get Raniready and then make us all some tea.I’ll look around to see if I can feed theAussies.They can eat.”
They definitely could, and she might need something heartierthan tea because she felt like she and her da were about to have a long overdueconversation.
She started for the back door when her cell buzzed in herpocket.
She glanced over at the security system and sure enough, itwas off.
But Devi would have turned it off to open the door and backon when she closed it.She would never have left the alarm off.Devi was goodwith random numbers.
What Devi wouldn’t have done was walked away from the door.She couldn’t see her sitting on the steps where she sometimes took a break.Devi wouldn’t have left that door unattended.Not ever.If she had to leave,she would have informed someone.
A chill went through her, and she backed up.
Something was wrong.She just knew it.
She raced back to the men she cared about most, eager to putthis all in their hands.
ChapterTwelve
“Hey, Uncle Li, I just wanted to…” Lucas began.
