I looked down at my newest little brother.
"He's a bit younger than who your father usually sends over," Susie commented.
I knelt down. "What's your name?"
"Henry," the kid said.
"How old are you?"
"Four and seven months."
"At least he can talk and knows his numbers," Susie said as she wrote notes on her pad. "I'll put it on your tab. The social worker will come by in the next few days."
There was an envelope pinned to the kid's jacket. I knew from experience it had all his paperwork in it.
If you're running a polygamist cult, you don't want a bunch of single males running loose. Previously, my father only sent the boys once they hit puberty. But then he began sending them younger and younger, so I supposed it was inevitable we would end up with a preschooler.
Henry was inspecting my suit. Suddenly he opened his mouth and licked it. Susie laughed then clapped a hand over her mouth.
I silently cursed the chocolate-sauce girl as I led Henry away.
* * *
When we arrivedat the estate house, it was chaos. I felt my jaw tense as soon as I walked in. I knew Hunter hadn't returned yet because the kids were all running around like animals. My college-aged brothers had returned to university, their various spring breaks over. It was easier to corral the younger boys when they were there. Of the oldest teenagers, only Adrian remained, and he hurried over when he saw me.
"Henry!" he exclaimed, picking up his much younger brother and squeezing him to his chest. "Nate! Billy! Look who's here." He looked at me guiltily. "Sorry, I know we're all brothers and not supposed to group off based on our mom," he said. "I'm not like those traitors in Seattle."
"It's okay. You do share a mother and are full brothers. I know you guys missed him. Why don't you go settle him in a room?"
Something hit me in the chest
"Oops," Nate yelled, eyes wide. He skidded to a halt in front of me, and I snatched the paintball gun out of his hand.
"I will not tolerate anarchy in this house," came Hunter's icy voice from behind me. All the kids immediately stopped what they were doing and lined up in the foyer from tallest to shortest. I switched Nate and Theo around. Theo had hit a growth spurt.
Adrian set Henry in the last spot and ran to the front of the line.
"You don't have to do this anymore, Adrian," Hunter said, waving him out of the line. "You're eighteen, and you're working with Mace. You're an adult."
"Man, this is someChildren of the Cornshit!" my half brother Liam called out as he walked in, followed by Jack Frost, his Platinum Provisions cofounder.
"OohLiam said a bad word!" the kids exclaimed.
"He did say a bad word, didn't he?" Hunter told them. "That's one hundred dollars, Liam. No swearing in the house."
Jack snickered.
"What the fuck?" Liam demanded. "A hundred dollars? Isn't it supposed to be like a nickel for swearing?"
"Inflation," Hunter replied, "and now it's two hundred dollars."
"I don't have any cash."
Hunter pulled out his phone and stuck a card reader in it. "I take credit cards."
"Guess what, guys!" I said to my little brothers. "I brought you a treat! Its vegan nut bread." I opened the box to show them.
The kids looked at the crumbly pieces of bread apprehensively.
