still here?” Liam asked, sipping his coffee.
“I thought I may visit for a while. It’s been a long time since this house has felt so warm, I’d like to see
what changes you have made to the place.”
“Oh! I didn’t know you were coming down for breakfast or I would have cooked something fancier,”
Sebastian said, frowning down into his frying pan.
“Don’t be silly. You’re my grandson now, you can relax,” Lachlan said, pouring himself a glass of juice.
“Don’t be fooled by the smiling face. That just means he’s going to figure out a way to work you more,”
Liam grumbled. Sebastian spun around and frowned at his mate.
“Be nice to our grandfather or no crepes for you,” Sebastian chided. Liam pouted. Kent walked into the
kitchen in his normal suit, glasses in place, looking sexy as sin. Liam felt himself getting aroused thinking
about office games. Sebastian moaned, bracing himself against the counter, and Kent stopped dead in his
tracks and swallowed hard.
“Liam, be good,” Kent admonished.
“My mates are picking on me,” Liam whined to no one in particular.
“Lachlan, you were right, the southwestern pride was the only hold out. The threat of sending in the
Sentinels had them responding. They are sending us one of their own.” Kent took a deep breath. Sensing
his mate’s pain, Liam stood and went to his mate.
“What is it?” he asked, taking the folder and placing it on the table. Gently, he pushed his mate into the
chair.
“How bad is it, son?” Lachlan asked, frowning.
“He’s only eight. His name is Brendan Walters. He told his mom that he liked boys. They have been
keeping him in the basement.” Kent’s voice broke.
“He comes here. We’ll take him,” Liam said, rubbing his hands over his mate’s. Liam felt Sebastian
move toward them, and then his heat was suddenly at their backs as he wrapped his arms around them.
“We’ll take them all, won’t we, Liam? All the kids with no homes?” Sebastian asked. Liam looked at
him then at Kent, both of them waiting on his answer.
“Yes, we’ll take them all.” Liam knew that he could never turn a child away.
“You did say you wanted a large family,” Sebastian snickered above them. Liam stilled. Reality hit. They
would have a child living with them again. It had been so long since Kyle had joined them, and he was
practically a teenager when he moved in. This boy was eight. Liam would bet that he still believed in Santa
Claus. Christmas! They were going to have so much fun shopping.
“What did you just think of that has you glowing from the inside out?” Kent asked. Lachlan chuckled.
“He must be thinking about Christmas. It’s his favorite holiday. Every year his parents would take off to
go skiing, leaving him with the Arkadions. He looked forward to Christmas every year,” Lachlan said.
“You knew?” Liam asked, surprised that his grandfather knew what his parents were really like.
“Where do you think your presents came from? You didn’t know?” he asked at Liam’s surprised
expression. Then Lachlan shook his head.
“Never mind, you were never supposed to know.” He sighed.
“Liam, I’ve known since you were very small how your parents treated you. As much as it pained me as
a parent to admit that my only son would ever hurt his child, I knew it would kill me if he ever did. Think
about it, Liam, if I had shown you any kind of favor growing up, what would your father have done?”
Lachlan asked.
“Nothing, but I would have probably died in a horrible accident,” Liam admitted. Sebastian gasped.
“Exactly. I may have announced you as my heir last night, but your name has been on my will for
almost twenty years.” Lachlan said sadly.
“We’re going to have real Christmases in this house again, hopefully I’ll be invited.” Lachlan winked.
“Of course you’re invited,” Sebastian said, kissing the tops of Liam and Kent’s heads before walking
back to the
Megan Lindholm
Braxton Cole
Saud Alsanousi
Allan Leverone
Audrey Carlan
Veronica Henry
Terry Spear
J.D. Cunegan
Derek Robinson
Richmal Crompton