Page 32 of Out of Peril

We all finished what we were doing and followed her. She pulled out the groceries she’d bought and they all stood there staring at them.

“I know how much you love broccoli, Dante,” she said uneasily.

He touched it with his finger. “It's hard. That's broccoli?”

“I think so,” she answered in a voice filled with uncertainty.

“What’s that?” Maya asked pointing to a tube.

“Hamburgers,” she said as her shoulders deflated. “Or that's what the guy at the store told me it was.”

“But that's not right. How are we supposed to eat that?” Dante asked.

“You cook it first,” I said.

Lindsey turned wild eyes up to me. “Please tell me that one of your other hidden talents is cooking.”

“Yeah, we don't cook. Trays of food just show up for us to eat,” Dante explained.

“He can at least make beans and popcorn,” Maya said thoughtfully.

I tried not to laugh at the three of them, but it felt so damn good to actually be needed.

“Relax. I can cook. Did you have something in mind?”

“Hamburgers covered in gravy with broccoli and potatoes.”

“My favorite!” Maya exclaimed.

Lindsey smiled warmly at her. It was a rare sight, seeing her entirely human with no trace of the beast when she interacted with the children like that.

I didn't comment it on it though as I quickly got to work prepping the meal.

“You know, everyone should know how to cook.”

“Why?” Dante asked. “We're just going to get caught again and then we won't have to worry about food anymore.”

I scowled. “Is that your plan?”

“No,” Lindsey said adamantly. “No more captivity. And we do need to be more self-sufficient and not rely on cooks to deliver our food. Plus, the two of you are going to learn to hunt and fish. I don't want you ever to be stuck back in a place like that again. You are free, and I intend for you to stay that way. Do you understand?”

He shrugged. “I guess if we have to. But wouldn't it be easier to have someone take care of us?”

“I’ll take care of you until you're old enough and strong enough to take care of yourselves.”

“But even then we'll still be family. Right Linds?” Maya asked.

“Always.”

The three of them embraced, and I wanted so badly to walk over and wrap them up in my arms. I'd always been a family man. First with my own family, though I hadn't had any siblings of my own, so I'd adopted my cousins into that role. It hadn't been easy for me to move on to San Marco, but there I'd found a new family. At first it wasn't easy, but once Delta was formed, I'd found the brothers I'd always wanted. They were my family. Well, them and Shelby, Ben, and the kids.

I smiled thinking about how the triplets were only a little younger than Maya and Dante. I could already see them growing up to be the best of friends.

“What are you smiling about?” Maya asked.

“Just thinking about my godkids. You two will love them.”

“What's a godkid?” Dante asked.

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