“And to think,” I said, “if you had come to celebrate New Year’s with your family here in Harrogate, that never would have happened.”
“What,” Garrett said slowly, “are you going to do with the boat?”
I shrugged. “Park it in the marina?”
“This is fucking ridiculous, even for you.”
“Stop swearing in front of the kids,” I told him then turned to my siblings.
“All right, suit up, everyone. Meet on the terrace in ten,” I ordered.
“But we just moved the fence,” Bruno complained.
“This is a family activity.”
“I’m not changing,” Calvin insisted. “I don’t want to get another set of clothes dirty.”
“My god,” Garrett said. “He sounds just like Weston.”
“Hey!”
“I’m ready to go!” Davy piped up. He was dressed from head to toe in black with black face paint around his eyes.
“What’s in your pocket?” Archer asked with a frown as another kid brought me my fence-moving clothes. I had them well trained.
“I’m going to feed the alligators!” Davy said in excitement.
Garrett’s lip curled up. “Is that why you bought all that cat food, Hunter?”
* * *
The fence movingwas going as smoothly as it always did.
“Let’s try to get it done in less than twenty-seven minutes,” I told my brothers.
“We should be paid for this,” Isaac complained as he switched out the battery on one of the drills.
“Who pays for your food, your laptops, and your cars?”
“I don’t have a car,” Isaac grumbled.
“Not with that attitude,” I told him. “Less complaining, more drilling.” I checked the laser to make sure it was straight then gave the all clear. The fence moved another inch. Something tugged on my tactical pants.
“I think I saw something!” one of the toddlers said loudly.
I peered at him in the dark. “What’s in your mouth?”
“Davy has snacks!”
“Oh, for f—” I bit back a curse then snapped, “Spit it out!”
“It’s mine!” Jacob shrieked. “It’s my snack.”
“Cat food tastes like fish sticks,” Davy told me happily.
“You’re letting them eat cat food?” Garrett demanded, standing up.
“Their breath is going to smell,” Parker complained. “Also,” he continued, “if you can buy a yacht, why can’t you just buy the land?”
