Finn: Xavier’s Hatchlings ― Paranormal Dragon Shifter Romance (Xavier's Hatchlings Book 1)

by Kathi S. Barton

  Chapter 1

  Finn wasn’t thrilled about the way things were piling up on his desk. Just yesterday, he’d asked his faerie, Bell, to see if she could find a way for him to be able to see the top of his desk. Her help was to push it all to the trash can. Even after she filled it, Bell continued to toss things to the floor. She could be spiteful when the mood struck her.

  “How is that even remotely helpful?” She asked him if there was anything else piled on his desk. “No, there isn’t. However, now it’s on the floor, and still in a state of messiness. I wanted to see if you could help me organize it, not just find the top of my desk for me.”

  “Organize it? I can.” With the snap of her fingers, not only was everything back on his desk, but also in neat piles. Each pile, she told him, was for one of the many companies he was working with. “You should take better care of your things, your lordship. Your mother would be so very disappointed in you.”

  “I’m sure she would be. If she were here.” He looked around to make sure she was not nearby watching him. Just in case. “I love her to pieces, but I don’t think there is another person in the world who can be as organized and neat as my mom is. Dad is even better organized since they got together, I’m to understand.”

  “He is.” Bell was today helping him look through the paperwork one pile at a time. “You need yourself someone to come in here and sort this for you. Not just to make piles, but to see what you need to work on. It’s too much, and you will not work here because it’s too much.”

  “I know. But I don’t even know where to begin to hire someone.” He looked over the paperwork for the new building he’d commissioned to go in months ago. “I think I need to make myself a list of things that should have been finished by now and go inspect them. I don’t think some of these projects, even from months ago, have even been started.”

  “They have not.” She looked over his shoulder at the folder he was currently holding onto. “Aye, Master. I would think it should have been completed many weeks ago. I know for a fact we would have had it completed had you allowed us to take the job over.”

  “I’ve not even mentioned we’re dragons living here. Can you imagine their faces when they see a building go up overnight, let alone be ready for occupants? They’d think themselves nuts.” Finn laughed a little. “I guess it would be easier to explain who and what we are if something like that were to happen.”

  He put the paper down and laid his head down on his desk. Even for the number of hours they’d been working, Finn had barely put a dent into what he had left to go over. Reaching out to his aunt, he asked Carson if she could find him someone who would be willing to work for him. It was all he could think to do and have someone he could trust in the office.

  I can do that. I’m glad you finally got your head out of your ass and figured out you can’t do it all on your own. Bell has been complaining about the mess in there for weeks now. How about those two projects I sent you? Have you had any luck finding out if the buildings have been started or not? He told her that was his next project, to go around checking on projects. Could you please send Bell to check on them? The company that is supposed to be doing the work is saying they’re over budget and time. I think he’s full of shit, but that could just be me.

  Finn told Bell what he needed her to do for Carson. When she left him, he looked around his office again. Christ, it really was a huge mess. He should have, as Carson said, gotten his head out of his ass long ago.

  Okay, I have three names I’m going to send you through email. It will also have their stats and pictures. I know you need computer help too. Not that you can’t run one, but it will free you up for all the other projects going on for the Manning Foundation. She told him the names, and Finn pulled the email up when his computer dinged, telling him he had a message. I’ll send them in order on the list. They’ve all been bonded. One of them is a dragon, but I don’t think the two of you will get along very well.

  Why is that? She told him. Okay, then don’t send her. I don’t need someone who will be bitching at me about things around my house that are no concern of hers. While I have you, I was also wondering how I would go about finding someone to come here and cook for me. It’s not really a big deal, but I think I’ll get fewer stares when I order food if I don’t have to explain why I’m having three meals instead of just the one humans eat.

  I can understand. I’ll find someone to come around for cooking as well. How are the others doing, Finn? I know you guys decided staying together as a family would make it easier for you to adjust, but I do worry about George and Milo. They have a great deal less magic than the rest of you, and I don’t want them to think they’re not going to be able to do this job. He told her what he’d figured out. Oh, so they’re doing better than you guys are. It shouldn’t surprise me, but it really does. I’m assuming by you telling me they’re getting out more, you mean they’re dating more than the rest of you.

  Yes. That about sums it up. Don’t get me wrong—every woman who sees where we live automatically assumes we’re prime meat. Big house, single man. Scary. I mean, I was picking up something at the hardware store the other day and had to leave without buying anything. Aunt Carson, I had women—with their men—following me around trying to look like they weren’t following me around. Laughing with him, Carson asked him if they should have gone with a smaller house to start with. No. I love the houses you guys picked out for us. All of them are perfect. Mine couldn’t have been better if I had told you what I wanted. And the pool is perfect for cooling me down.

  I had to search for a while to find you a home with a pool. I knew, as a red dragon, you’d need it worse than the others.

  He ran hot, molten hot, all the time. And when the weather was humid and above eighty, he could literally sweat buckets. Lucky for him, he was able to control it better than he had been when he was younger. And the pool took so much pressure off him when he had to stay as a human for more than a day or two.

  When they made arrangements for her to start sending him people who could potentially work for him, he nearly closed the connection. Then Bell returned, looking like she’d been hit a couple of times. Finn could feel his dragon getting the better of them.

  “They did not care for me looking around the building, Master. It was as if they were prepared for someone to come and see how it was progressing.” He asked her what had happened. “Those men will not try and capture me in a net again. I made them hurt badly. But the building isn’t finished. There isn’t even any equipment there to indicate anyone has wanted to start on it for Lady Carson.”

  He relayed the information to his aunt, and she wasn’t the least bit surprised. After she told him she’d be there in a couple of days, he decided he wanted to give this a go on his own. It was what they’d been sent there for, to make sure the money they were lending out went to what it was supposed to, and to people who were actually in need of the money. So far, all he’d been able to do was chase down people, which was why he was so far behind.

  I think I’d like to—I’ll take care of this. She didn’t ask him if he was sure. Finn was both surprised and terrified by that thought. You send me what you have on the person I’m to talk with, and I’ll go and see what is going on.

  Don’t go alone. Laughing, Finn asked her if she thought he was nuts. When she laughed as well, he felt better. I know you can handle whatever comes your way, Finn. I have no doubt you can make sure this job gets done. But it sounds like this person is spoiling for a fight, and I don’t want you to lose your shit over this.

  I’ll be extra careful. I’ll take George with me. He’s calming. His brother was the one person who could bring him back from nearly losing his shit, as Aunt Carson had said. We’ll figure out which of the men hurt Bell, too. Once this is cleaned up, I’m going to need to start taking a bigger role in this project. I’ve been here for six months, and all I’ve managed to do is drown mys
elf in paperwork.

  As I said before, it’s about time. Nodding though he knew she couldn’t see him, he felt better already. I’ll send what I have to you in an email. I’ll also send you hard copies. I think there might be a driver’s license picture in with the file as well. His name is Jack Bash.

  She told him everything would be in the file, but it was nice to have his notes too. When his computer dinged once again, he pulled it up to look at it, just to make sure he didn’t have any questions for her.

  Finn was still going over things when George joined him a little while later. Not only did he have a lot more notes to arm himself with, but he also had a little more background on the person he was seeing—or going to try and see. Finn told George what they were doing.

  “Thank goodness.” They both laughed. “I’m going out of my mind just sitting around doing shit. It’s like we took all this time to find a place that would be central to Manning Foundation, moved here, and now we’re doing nothing but sitting on our collective asses. I’m ready for something to do.”

  “I was thinking of not making an appointment to see this person and just showing up unannounced. What do you think?” George told him it was great, then he couldn’t hide from them when the time came. “He or his men tried to hurt Bell too. I need to make sure he understands I won’t put up with that sort of treatment.”

  “I don’t want to cause trouble either. But this is getting out of hand. Not with this situation, but the one I’m working on. I have several bids to revamp the grade school gym. So far, I can’t find any of the bidders who put in a bid. The only person I have been able to talk to is one of their secretaries, who tells me he’s out of town on a business trip. I ask you, what sort of business trip takes six months?” Finn told him the avoidance kind. “Yes, I think so too. He’s not going to get anything on my end until I can verify a couple of things. For instance, why is it costing nearly a million dollars to have two new basketball nets replaced on the backboards that are already there and, by all accounts, in perfect shape? I can’t even get into this school to see what the problem is on my own. I was honestly trying not to ask someone to get me in, so I’d not feel like I’m falling down on the job.”

  “I asked Aunt Carson for help. You know what she told me? ‘Thank goodness you got around to getting your head out of your ass.’ I was much nicer, just so you know.” They were both laughing when Finn spoke again. “If you don’t ask her for help, I will. And you know that won’t go over well for her. She’s in a good mood. Well, as good a mood as you can expect out of her.”

  “I love her, but there are times when I don’t want to tell her anything.” They loaded up in his SUV. “How do you like this thing? I know you got a truck as well when we were vehicle shopping, but I’ve only seen you driving around in this. It seems small to me.”

  “Nah. I love it. And since its usually just me or one other person, I keep the seat lying down. It’s roomy enough for just running around town.” A flash of light reminded him he’d not asked Bell to come with them. He told her he was sorry. “I didn’t think to ask you, Bell, because I thought you’d had enough of them already. I’m sorry.”

  “I cannot protect you if you do not tell me where you are going.” He told her it was why he had George. “George is a good choice to keep you calm. I will help you kill them if they need it.”

  He wasn’t sure if she was joking or not, so didn’t say anything. As soon as he pulled into the parking lot of the building that was supposed to be worked on, he was glad for all the help he could get. Finn asked his brothers if any of them were close to his location. All four of them told him they were on their way to him now.

  ~~~

  It was everything George could do not to laugh. It really was funny, but no one else standing in the parking lot seemed to think it was nearly as amusing as he did. Turning his back on Finn when he snorted with laughter again, he saw his brother Hadley laughing as hard as he was. Or at least trying not to laugh like he was.

  “Are we at an agreement now?” The six men who had been standing around at the building site were battered and bruised. None of the brothers had a scratch on them. “When I or one of my representatives come here to check on the progress, at any time, you will have a crew working here, and they’ll be progressing toward some sort of ending. This is what we agreed upon when the money was lent to you. Correct?”

  “Yes, sir. We’ll be here working. All of us. We’ll be working hard in finishing up this building.” The man speaking, the first one who had challenged Finn, was now nearly bowing to his brother and ready to agree to anything he wanted, George thought. “I’m going to take my entire crew off other projects to get this one here finished up. Just like I should have done in the first place.”

  “You should have had this entire building done by now. I cannot believe in six months you’ve not even put the first nail in the first piece of wood.” The man, he didn’t know his name, said it was entirely his fault. “I’m certainly not going to take the blame for this. You have a crew here in the morning or so help me, I will hunt you down, and what I showed you today will be nothing to what I will do to you in the morning.”

  He and Finn had gotten out of the car, both of them laughing about something Bell had told them about the man in the yellow shirt. It was she who had pointed out he was in the man in charge of the operation. On their way to confront the man, Finn simply bent at the waist and picked up a long piece of iron. It had to be heavy. The way his muscles had bulged out had made George think it might have been a little heavier than even Finn had thought it would be.

  The man in the yellow shirt spoke first. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t the Manning Foundation. I heard you guys were around and about. I was just talking to the one in charge there, telling her we’re over budget and she’s to send me some money. Or so I thought.” The others laughed when he did. “I’m not sure how I can use a couple of pretty boys, but you come on and let me see what you can do and we’ll—”

  The iron in Finn’s hands started to get hot. It might not have been noticeable at first, not while yellow shirt was talking, but as soon as it started to melt into a large puddle at his feet, Finn bent it in half and leaned on it.

  “How the fuck did you do that?”

  If the man hadn’t been so focused on the red hot iron, he might well have noticed Finn was getting hot as well. His face was darkening, and his hands had small flames on them. When he put the piece of iron down on the ground, all he did was take a single small step towards yellow shirt.

  Finn didn’t show off. He didn’t even like being hot when he was angry. But today he seemed to be having way too much fun for even George to tell him to back off. Finn touched his hand to the obviously new truck in the parking lot, and all of them watched as his hand went through the hood of the truck and deep into the engine compartment. When he came out with a handful of flaming parts, he blew on them, igniting the parts that weren’t on fire already, and tossed them at the men.

  George would laugh every time he thought of them trying to get away from the fire. There wasn’t much to it after it left Finn’s hand—just a few embers of whatever the part was. The men looked like it was a ball of flames set to turn them into ash. The rest of the family showed up and just leaned against their cars and waited.

  The workers were falling all over themselves, knocking each other down, which accounted for their being battered and bruised—the Mannings never touched them. They were screaming like little girls when one of the others pushed them out of the way. It didn’t even matter if they were pushed toward the now extinct fire—they were terrified, it seemed, that the sucker was going to start up again and take them out.

  “Who thinks they’re in charge here?” The entire group of them pointed at the man in yellow. Finn took a step toward the man and smiled at him. It wasn’t friendly at all, George thought. “You want me to have to hunt you down? Show you what I d
id to this truck? Or are you going to get your fucking asses in gear and finish this building? I’m not a man who likes to repeat himself. Ever. If I have to come back here and see how my family’s money is being used, then there will have to be an entirely new crew hired, because I will not tell you a second time you’re to get your shit together and fucking finish this work. Do I make myself entirely clear?”

  “Yes, sir. Yes, sir, I’m very clear on what has to be done here.” The man looked like he was going to lose his head, he was bobbing it up and down so quickly. “I didn’t know you were going to come here, or I would have had them start on it today.”

  “You piece of shit, you should have had this done by now. Christ, do you have any idea how many offers we’ve had to come here and do the job correctly? More than I like to hear about. You’ll start on this tomorrow, bright and early, or I swear to you on my mother’s heart I will not be happy.” The man was tossing out assignments even as Finn continued. “If I or any of my brothers come by here at any time during usual business hours and there isn’t a crew working on this, you won’t have to worry about paying back the money the foundation already paid you. I’m going to roast you fucking alive. Understand?”

  Finn then turned to the rest of them, and it was Dover who gave him the thumbs up. George could tell they were all impressed with Finn, but he could also tell Finn wasn’t all that happy with himself. It wasn’t like him to make a scene about something. The man rarely lost his temper either. It was much too dangerous for it to happen.

  George caught the car keys when they were tossed at him. He wondered if Finn was going to be able to get into the car, what with him still being hot. But once he was in the seat and buckled, the rest of them got into their cars as well. George didn’t ask any of them but pulled into the first place to eat he came upon. It just happened to be a steak house.