Sean: The Sons of Crosby: Vampire Paranormal Romance

by Kathi S. Barton

  The two of them shared their food. Rachel was having so much fun that he got up when Jon and Becky needed refills on their milk or more food. Jon loved just about everything, with the exception of the cranberry sauce. Becky didn’t care for turkey, but she loved the ham. Their seconds consisted of the things that they liked this time. And they were also sharing things off each other’s plates.

  The other kids seemed to be enjoying their new cousins. He was happy when they seemed to be laughing and having as much fun as the adults were. Sean wanted to pull them from the table and hug them all, but he also knew he’d embarrass them.

  After the food was covered and put away for grazing, he helped his brothers load the dishwasher. There would be more plates and such later and throughout the day, but for now, they were cleaning the bulk of it up.

  He was just putting the last of the pots away when his brothers turned to him.

  “What?” Ryan asked if he could talk business with him for a moment. “If you think it’s necessary, then yes. However, if Dad hears you, he’s going to kick your ass.”

  They all laughed. When Ryan asked him to have a seat, he had a feeling that whatever he told him, it wasn’t going to be good news. When the rest of them had a seat, he braced himself for the news.

  “We’ve had the body of Jonathan exhumed. Sandy is telling anyone that will listen that her husband was holding the gun when he was shot. No one did any kind of autopsy to make sure of that, but Misty thought it might be a good idea to do it because of everything else that is going on. It looks like he was murdered. Also, he didn’t have any drugs in his system from what we’ve figured out, so her claim that he did it while stoned isn’t going to stand up in court. The gun residue that should still be there isn’t on his hands. The coroner had wrapped his hands up and left them that way when he was entombed. We think he might well have had the same idea we did, that she killed him.” He knew why it was important but asked his brother. “It shows she has been lying about that from the beginning, and her word on anything isn’t trustworthy. I’ve also spoken to her attorney, Marks. He called to tell me that he got all the information we had sent him and asked if he could put a deal on the table for her. He doesn’t think she’s going to take it, but he wanted to know what we could live with.”

  “I take it you want me to talk to Rachel about it.” Ryan said that was what Misty was doing now. “I see. I don’t really, but why is it you thought I needed to know like this? I mean, if you’re telling her already.”

  “We wanted…. I wanted you to be prepared in the event she asks you about it. I know you never really liked being an attorney all those decades ago, but you do know what Sandy getting a deal could mean. Shorter prison terms. She could also demand to see her children. I would count on that if she’s fighting this hard to get to see them.” Sean said he’d not count on that. “Why not? You know something I don’t?”

  “Yes. The fact of the matter is, she doesn’t want the kids. Rachel and I spoke about this last night, and she thinks her sister’s plan is to take them and sell them. Rachel is afraid that is her plan, and the reason she’s now claiming that, rather than Sandy forging the paperwork, Rachel did it.” Ryan leaned back in his chair, and Chase got up to pace. They were all thinking that now, he’d bet. “I’m not positive she won’t agree to the deal, but I’m reasonably sure Rachel wants her sister-in-law right where she is. Did you know she was not aware of Becky being raped?”

  “I only just found out.” The rest of them hadn’t known either. Jason asked him if he was serious. “Yes. Apparently, Sandy was way behind in paying her dope dealer and told him if he’d wipe it clean, he could have Becky. They had to tie Jon up to keep him from tearing the man apart. That’s why he’s so protective of his sister. He’s worried about her. I’ve been looking into getting her some help, someone that can deal with this sort of trauma. If you guys know of anyone, let me know.”

  The rest of the kitchen clean up was done in quiet speculation. They’d ask him or Ryan a question, but for the most part, everyone was thinking. Before they left the kitchen, however, he told them all not to say anything or treat Becky any differently. She’d know that they knew.

  “I want to take them both in my arms and hold them forever.” He told Grayson he did as well. “What sort of monster does that to their own child, Sean? And figures it would be all right with them later in life? Christ. Humans are so cavalier about life. I wonder if anyone thinks about how their actions today will affect their family in the future.”

  When they left the kitchen, the football game was in its last quarter. When Becky and Jon, with the rest of the kids, joined them to watch, Sean had to poke a couple of his brothers to make them pay attention to the game. They were staring at his kids like they were afraid they’d break down or something. Finally, after about ten more minutes of him drawing them into the things going on around them, they started acting the same as before.

  I have a question for you. Sean smiled when Rachel reached out to him. You know, I do have to admit, this is much nicer than running around trying to find you when I have a question. Did you know the pack has a progressive teaching program? And that Becky and Jon have been invited to be a part of it?

  I knew about the program, but not that our kids were going to be a part of it. They want to, don’t they? She assured him they did. They liked the kids there better. Good. They’ll be well protected there. With all those shifters around, they’ll learn a great deal about all sorts of nonhumans as well.

  Maybe I need to join too. She was quiet for several seconds, and he waited. The game they were watching was a blowout for their team, so it was sort of boring. Misty asked me if I’d like to offer a deal to Sandy in exchange for prison time. I don’t know that I want that any more than I want her around the kids. But I’d hate for them to find out about it and hate me for keeping their mom in prison. Do you think I should talk to them about it?

  I do. But I think you’re wrong about how they’ll feel about it. I think they’ve had enough of their mother about as much as you have. She said she was sad about that. But it’s nothing she didn’t bring on herself. You have to keep telling yourself that. The fact that she has been able to keep her kids for as long as she has is surprising to me.

  Do you think she’ll win with this? I mean, I want her put away—that’s why I think she’ll be able to get out of this. He said he thought Sandy would be lucky if she didn’t get several lifetimes out of this. Did Ryan tell you they exhumed my brother? I guess she killed him as well. There wasn’t even any gun residue on his hands. All the things I did for her…. All the things she told me, Sean, were lies. Everything, including how my brother was killed.

  Sean could feel her pain and got up to find her. Emerald and the other women were in the dining room having tea, and they told him she was out on the deck. Going out there, he found her just on the edge of the deck, talking to Killian. The two of them seemed to have become close friends. They both turned to look at him when he opened the door.

  “I’m sorry. I was just looking to make sure Rachel was all right.” Killian asked him to have a seat too. “I don’t want to intrude.”

  “Come on. You’re not. I was just telling your lovely mate here about the things you and your family do for us. Fairaday is coming to see her too. You’ve been remiss, young Sean, in showing your mate off to those around you.” It wasn’t a scolding, but he told her he was sorry. “That’s fine. It’s going to give me a chance to show her off. Spud, he’s gone to Fairaday for us.”

  “Killian told me if I ever needed a few minutes alone, she’d take the children to her side of the world. I was just telling her how jealous I’d be if they got to see unicorns before I did.” He could hear the disbelief in her voice and was glad to see Fairaday coming through their yard on that very thing. “Sean! They’re real! Look, it’s a flipping unicorn!”

  After petting the unicorn for a few minutes, she
had him go in and get the children. No one was more impressed with the dainty little horse than Jon was. Not only did he have a long conversation with Fairaday about her job, but she allowed him to call her if he ever needed someone to talk to. Becky, Sean noticed, was talking to one of the many other faeries that had come along to see what all the excitement was about.

  “Sean, Maybell said that she could be my faerie if I wanted her to be.” Sean could bet he could power the house with the excitement in Becky’s voice. “She told me she’d make sure I was protected and that I knew the rules of other creatures. I told her how Jon and I wanted to be veterinarians together. She said they were forever looking for someone to be a doctor for the other creatures.”

  He knew that, as a doctor, one of his sisters could take care of the animals should they be hurt. Sean had an idea that no matter what his two children decided they wanted to be when they grew up, they’d give it their all. They would have learned that from their aunt. Getting down to her level, Sean asked her if she knew the responsibility of knowing so much about other creatures.

  “Yes. I’m to tell no one what I know. Not even if they dig out my fingernails with a pair of plyers.” Rachel asked her where she’d gotten that thought from, and Becky looked at him, wide-eyed. “I forgot we weren’t supposed to tell her that we watch horror movies with you. She’s not mad at you, Sean. I’ll talk to her about it later.”

  “You do that.” His thinking was that if the children saw some horror movies and how others like him were treated in them, they’d be more tolerant. They did point out how stupid the movies were too. “I’ll talk to her too. I’ll tell her that you and your brother are braver than I am when we watch them.”

  Winking at her, it was funny how things were settled up. Not only did Maybell become Becky’s faerie, but Jon asked if he could have someone like Spud. No one understood that until Spud admitted that Jon wanted an older faerie, someone he could talk history with. Sean wondered if Jon realized that all the creatures there today were hundreds of years older than he was.

  Chapter 3

  Charles wondered if he was being picked on because of his brother, or if the cops around here treated every newcomer this way. Each time he asked a question, he was told he had to read the rules hanging over his sink. Sure they were. He’d seen them. What he wanted them to tell him was if he got special treatment or not. Charles was perplexed as to why, even though his brother worked in the jail, he’d not seen hide nor hair of him

  “I should get something special, being how my brother is the chief of police.” The woman down from him on the other side screamed that if he got extra food, she wanted it as well. Something about the old broad made him think he should know her, but he couldn’t recall where he’d met her. “Shut up, you old fart. I’m not getting anything extra, so you’re not either.”

  They’d brought her in a few days ago, he’d been told, so she could get a fair trial. Also, something about her having family here. It was doubtful there was anyone in the world unaware of her. She never shut the hell up. Another slight memory touched his head, but he couldn’t catch why he should know Loud Mouth.

  “Blow it out your ass, you jackass.”

  They’d been arguing since he’d gone by her cell, and she told him to grab the gun from one of the officers and give it to her. He couldn’t figure out how that was supposed to work, what with the cops right there hearing every word she said. Ignoring her hadn’t been easy either. Every time one of the cops came down their hall, she’d start yelling about her kids. He wondered if she realized that kids didn’t want to see their parents in jail.

  Hearing her yelling at someone coming through the door was like having a doorbell on the sucker. She’d scream, literally scream at them, then beg for more food. Charles had to wonder if she was a huge woman the way she always wanted food. When the cop stopped in front of his cell and opened the door, he sat on the side of the bed.

  “You’re free to go, Mr. Quinn.” He didn’t move, fearful that this was going to be a trap or something. “You are to stay one hundred yards from the Crosby family. If you’re not sure if someone you see is a Crosby, you’re to stay away from that person as well.”

  “Am I allowed to see my brother before I leave? He owes me some money.” The cop told him he wasn’t there. He’d planned it that way. “I guess that means he didn’t leave me any money either. How does he expect me to get around if I don’t have anything to use to get me some food and a place to stay?”

  “I’m thinking he might just want you to find your own way. That’s what I’d do if my brother just got out of prison and ended up in my jail.” He didn’t care for the man’s tone and told him that. “Really? I hurt your little feelings? I’m so not sorry. Get up and get out of here, Mr. Quinn, before I get you for trespassing.”

  “You’re real brave when you’re an armed man, aren’t you? Why don’t you meet me outside, and we’ll settle this like men?” The cop told him he wasn’t a child in a schoolyard anymore. He reminded him too that he was not to rob the banks in town or anyone else. “You sure do have a lot of rules around here.”

  “Actually, those are all things you should be following anyway. Believe it or not, people, nice people, don’t have to be reminded not to rob places.” The door was opened wider, and Charles got up to leave. Lunging at the cop only made him laugh. “You really are a moron, aren’t you? Why on earth would you think I’d be afraid of you? A mere human?”

  “You aren’t human?” The cop let just enough of himself go so that he could see that he was a wolf. “What the hell is this world coming to when normal people have to hang around with nonhumans?”

  “I have no idea. I’ve been asking that same question since I started working here.”

  Charles was out the front door with what little belongings he had come in with when he realized the guy had misheard him. Shaking his head, he walked to the store just across the street from the jail.

  He wanted some fruit in the worse kind of way. An apple. Ever since he’d been a little tyke, he’d feel the cold air around him and want an apple. Most of the time, he’d not care for fruit—just an apple in the fall.

  As soon as he entered the store, the man at the register came around to his side of the counter and asked him what he wanted.

  “I’m just browsing.” He didn’t have money to buy anything with, but he wasn’t going to tell this jerk that. As he walked around the store, trying to get a bead on where the apples were, the man followed him step for step. Finally, Charles had enough. “What the hell are you doing? Don’t you have other customers you can bother?”

  “I’m keeping an eye on you. We were all told this morning that you were broke and that you might come in and try to steal from us. I’m making sure you don’t get anything from me.” Charles asked him who would have told him that. “The chief of police. He’s a great man, Jefferson is. You should have strived to be more like him.”

  Charles wanted to just swipe his hand over the pretty display of Christmas stuff. He mumbled about it not even being Thanksgiving when the man told him it was just yesterday. He’d missed the holiday? His favorite one? Not getting invited to his brother’s house wasn’t anything that surprised him, but he hadn’t even gotten something special in his cell from the cops. What the hell was this world coming to?

  Getting the same treatment all over town, he decided he might have to have a little talk with Jefferson. The nerve of him making sure everyone in town knew just who he was. What really pissed him off was the poster he’d seen in one of the shops he’d been in. It had a picture of him with his prison uniform on when he’d been put there, as well as his name. Under that, it said, “No money. No credit cards. No job.”

  The issue he had was that not only did he not have a clue where Jefferson lived, but he didn’t know what car he drove when he was off duty. Deciding he’d go over to the jail and wait for him to come to work, he fou
nd himself a seat outside the library and sat down. It was cold—fucking cold, as a matter of fact—but he needed his brother so he could explain a few things to him. Like to stay the fuck out of his life.

  There seemed to be a lot of activity going on around town today. Of course, he had no idea if this was normal or not, but a lot of people were going in and out of shops and seemed to be in good cheer. Charles hated Christmas. He liked it when he got something, but when people put out their hands wanting something in return, Charles wanted to knock their heads off.

  He saw the little girl he’d seen at the house that had called the cops on him and started to go to her. Charles didn’t know what he had planned to say to her, or for that matter, what he might have done to her. But he stopped standing up while his body was still bent and looked at her.

  She stared at him like she knew just what he was thinking. His balls tightened up to his body when she did that eye thing at him, telling him she had her eyes on him. But he had a feeling she wasn’t just giving the sign—she was actually going to be keeping her eyes on him. Charles sat back down when she turned and walked away.

  Having his heart pound like he’d been running a race didn’t help him at all with his feelings. No matter how many times he told himself he wasn’t afraid of her, Charles knew he was on some level. Looking around to make sure she wasn’t sneaking up on him, he cried out when he saw a woman standing right behind the bench he was on.

  “You scared the shit out of me. What the hell are you doing sneaking around like you are?” Instead of answering him, she sat down on the seat next to him. “I don’t remember inviting you to have a seat. I’m waiting for someone. Unless, of course, you’re here to service me? I could use a good blow—”

  The smack to the back of his head was a lot more painful than he thought it should have been. Looking at her again, he asked her what the hell was wrong with her. She smiled, and he felt the same fear he had with the little girl. Ball tightening fear that made his dick hurt.