Page 25 of Jethro

“I think you need to leave,” said Mr. Langley.

“We’ll be happy to leave but you’ll be hearing from the sheriff and fire investigators about the building. You could be libel for those victims.”

“Five homeless people are not our concern,” said Carter Langley.

“Five?” smirked Christopher. “I don’t think we mentioned that there were five victims.”

Now the Langley’s were afraid. Their faces were turning white, their hands shaking as they held one another up. The four men in front of them only grinned, nodding their heads as if they’d just decoded some national secret.

“We’ll be seeing you around,” said Kev. “I’ll be sure and let Aurora know that you didn’t ask about her.”

“She’s being stubborn!” yelled her mother.

“Stubborn? I’m not sure how being an adult who chooses her own path is being stubborn. She’s beautiful, confident, intelligent, and loved by many people.”

“She should marry within her circle,” said the woman through tight lips.

“Her circle? Woman you’ve been watching too much reality television. The circle we choose is our own. I don’t give a shit if you’re a dog catcher or a chief justice. If you’re in love with someone, that’s all that matters. My mother owns one of the largest cosmetic manufacturing facilities in the world and is constantly developing new products that I can already smell in this house. My father was a decorated member of the United States Coast Guard. They taught me what love is.

“You nitwits need to get your asses into this century,” said Kev. “But let me be perfectly clear. If you come near Aurora with the intent to harm her physically or psychologically, I will end your life without question.”

Kai took off his boot covers and walked across the cream colored carpet, tossing the covers in a waste bin. The other men followed as Missy Langley looked as though she might faint.

When they were inside the car, Christopher stared at the house, then at his teammates.

“Ready for pie?” he asked.

“Yep. Although, if I had to guess, the Langley’s are about to get their cars repossessed and quite possibly lose their homes,” said Kai. “There were final notices all over the desk. We need to ask Hiro if there was insurance on that building.”

“Checking now.”

“God, I love our technology,” smirked Sonny.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Margie took her usual spot by the window with her iced coffee and piece of lemon pie. She’d ordered four extra slices for her expected guests and pulled some additional chairs over.

“Not alone today, Margie?” asked Ned, the owner of the small shop.

“I am but I’m expecting some folks that wanna talk,” she smiled. It was only moments later that the four men walked in and smiled at her, ordering their own coffee.

“You ordered pie for us or you’re about to be really full,” smirked Kev.

“It’s for you,” she smiled. “Anyone who is a friend of Aurora’s is a winner in my book.”

“What’s the deal with them? Her parents?” frowned Kai.

“I wish I knew the whole story. Like any good housekeeper I listen but hear nothing,” she smirked. “I know that they argued with her from the day she went off to college that she was supposed to marry well and they had two men in mind. Both were disgusting. Drunken frat boys who lived off their parents money and played golf all day and whored with women at night. They were a few years older and just disgusting.”

The four men raised a brow and Margie shook her head.

“My apologies. It fires me up,” she said.

“It’s okay,” said Kev. “We noticed some final notices on their desk. Are they in financial trouble?”

“I think so. They always paid me by check and then a few months back they started paying me in cash. I also noticed that a few of their paintings were gone. When I asked Mrs. Langley about them she said they were going to remodel the place and that I should mind my own business.”

“But you don’t believe that,” said Kai.