Jericho physically flinched. It was like someone had just curb stomped his heart. “Of course, not. You are two of the sweetest, kindest, gentlest boys I know. That lady just doesn’t understand our family.”
Boots hopped up onto the counter to lick her own butt like she was showing off that she did not, in fact, need their help. Jett giggled. Boots sneezed, then left as quickly as she came. She was probably reminding them that she required her fancy overpriced gourmet cat food. Spoiled brat.
He didn’t look convinced, his pale skin pinkening just like Atticus’s, blue eyes anxious. “Will we have to leave school?”
“No, baby. She’ll leave that school—” And possibly that plane of existence— “before you do. That’s a promise,” Atticus said, carrying Jagger from the bathroom, even though he was getting far too big to carry.
He plopped the boy onto the stool beside his brother then walked behind the counter to drape himself over his husband’s back.
“Are we in trouble?” Jagger asked, staring up at Jericho with those big, brown boba eyes.
He hated the anxious expressions on their faces. It wasn’t fair. They hadn’t done anything wrong. If anything, it was Atticus and Jericho’s fault for not being thorough enough, not stressing enough, the importance of avoiding suspicion. The two boys blamed themselves for everything. No matter how much they reassured them, they always acted like they were just visiting, like a day would come when they’d be told they couldn’t stay anymore. That they had to leave.
Jericho and Atticus had sat them down both separatelyand together, explaining that they’d adopted them legally. That this was their home forever. They would always smile and nod, but it was clear they still didn’t quite believe it.
“You’re not in trouble,” Jericho assured them. “But why did you make these?”
Jett shrugged. “Cause Ms. Kelly said that we could give them as presents. We wanted to wrap each one up for the uncles cause you guys say they’re hard to shop for.”
That was so cute it made Jericho want to squeeze them until they popped. “That’s very sweet. Butwhyexactly are they holding weapons?” Jericho asked patiently.
“Not just weapons, daddy,” Jagger said excitedly. “They’re holding theirfavoriteweapon. Cause it’s theirfavorite.” His face fell suddenly. “I wanted to do uncle Noah with his favorite thing too but Jett couldn’t figure out how to make a dog.”
“Which of you…uh, decorated these? Was it both of you?” Atticus asked, hooking his chin over Jericho’s shoulder, strong arms wrapping tight around his waist.
Jett’s eyes lit up. “Jagger did the frosting but I made the shapes. Not the man. That was a metal thing that made everyone’s cookies look the same shape. But I used the leftover dough to make the little weapons.”
Jericho could feel Atticus’s smile in his words. “And you guys did such a really good job. But do you remember what we talked about at the Fourth of July party a year or so ago?”
“And again at Halloween?” Jericho added.
“And a couple of weeks ago, at Thanksgiving when Arabella’s Bratz doll drowned under suspicious circumstances in grandpa’s pool?” They both blinked at him. “How we don’ttalk about the family secrets? Do you remember that?”
They both nodded, expressions serious. “We didn’t, daddy. We swear. We didn’t talk to anyone about it at all.”
Jericho chuckled as Atticus pressed his forehead to his shoulder with a soft groan. “To be fair, Freckles. It’s our fault for not being way more specific.”
He felt him nod against his shoulder. For a moment, silence fell over the four of them. Jericho’s gaze floated back to their Christmas tree. This was the first year the kids had helped decorate. Their house was cozy, lived in. Like a family lived there. Jericho wanted nothing more than to cuddle up with said family and watch something. They just had to get through this slight bump in their day.
“Its true. We weren’t clear enough with you. So, in the future, we need you to promise that you won’t say or do anything that might let people know about our family secret. No weapons. No drawings of blood or knifes or torture devices,” Atticus said. “Just happy pictures of Boots and flowers and suns. Okay?”
“Okay, Daddy,” they said in unison.
Jericho reached out and squeezed each of their little hands. “Most people don’t understand that we’re helping the world. And if they find out what we do, we can’t keep people safe. We don’t want to make anyone unsafe, right?”
They shook their heads.
“Good,” Jericho said. “Why don’t you guys go get your pillows and blankets and we’ll watchThe Grinchbefore bed. I’m sure daddy won’t mind ordering pizza while I’m in the shower.”
“Yay! Pizza,” Jagger cried.
He loved pizza. He’d eat it for every meal if he could. They wiggled off their stools and ran to do as they were told. Jericho knew they’d get distracted and give him a few minutes to talk alone to his husband.
The moment they were alone, Jericho snorted, rounding on his husband. “Cheap hooker heels? That’s not very nice. Freckles.”
Atticus scoffed. “She’s lucky I didn’t say anything about that wig of hers. She looked like she’d skinned a golden retriever and wore it on her head like a trophy.”
Jericho laughed, his hands sliding down to the swell of Atticus’s rounded ass. “I swear, sometimes you’re cattier than Felix.”
