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“A Robin Hood type?”
“Something like that.”
“So, what? You’re seeing if you can figure out who it is?”
I shrug. “Just fascinated, I guess.”
“By what?” Phantom asks, joining us. He glances at Ghost, his gaze lingering.
“Is your guest gone?” Ghost asks, his tone a little tense if I’m reading it correctly.
“Yeah.” Phantom leans on the back of the couch. “I was gonna grab breakfast with Nimble and Joss. You down?”
“No.” Ghost is now obviously pouting about something. “I ate already.”
“Why are you being a dick?”
“I’m not, Phantom.” Ghost directs his gaze to me. “Need any help?”
“What’s going on?” Phantom asks.
“I’m just digging around. I think Mistone has a new serial killer and I’m interested, that’s all.”
“Well, if anyone can figure it out, it’s you, man,” Phantom says, still looking at Ghost.
Seconds later, my other brothers flow into the room. Specter sits in the big leather chair and his husband, Colson, perches on his lap. Wraith and his man, Pax, flop down on the couch, and Carnage and Rue come in carrying freshly baked blueberry muffins.
Stealth shows up next, and then Nimble and Joss enter too. When Shadow finally comes in, I smile. It’s nice seeing my family all together like this. It’s getting bigger all the time too.
“I’m sending you all new assignments this morning.” Shadow sips his coffee. “Everyone gets something this time. Business is booming.”
“Any reason why?” Specter asks.
“Not that I can tell. Maybe word got out about us in certain circles. I had to turn one down though. Someone wanted a hit on a senator and a city council person. The husband. Guess they’re having an affair.”
“Which senator?” Joss asks, slightly frantic. “My dad is a senator but I’m pretty sure he’s not having an affair.”
Shadow frowns but answers. “It’s not your dad. Besides, he’s a friend. I don’t need to remind you that anything you hear in this house stays here, do I?”
“Oh, Senator Statton,” Joss says with relief. “Yeah, she’s been cheating on her husband for years. Everybody knows that. My dad told me the husband finally filed for divorce but she has family money and is raking him over the coals.” He focuses on Shadow. “And no, I don’t need the reminder.”
“Ah, so it’s not about the cheating, it’s about money,” Rue says. “That makes more sense.”
I grab a muffin and take a bite, chewing slowly before saying “It’s always about money” after I swallow. “Even when it seems like it’s about something else, in the end, it comes back to money.”
“What about crimes of passion?” Colson asks.
“Can’t hire a hit man for that. Not in a court of law, anyway. Murder for hire is an intentional act.”
“Right, that checks out.” Colson nods. “Murder is a pretty intense response to infidelity.” The looks he gets from all of us make him laugh. “Sorry, I forgot what room I was in.”
Rue looks at Carnage. “You wouldn’t kill me for cheating, would you?”
“No. I’d kill the person you cheated with and make you watch.” He says it with a perfectly straight face.
Rue’s eyes go big as he nods. “Good thing I never would. I have everything I want with you.”
I look over at Pax, who doesn’t even seem fazed by this conversation. “Hey, where’s your brother?”
