Page 53 of Kidnapping Their Third

“This is Kimble,” she said, pointing.

“Kimble!” the men yelled and drank again.

“You guys are idiots!” Cora announced, but she was smiling as she led him and Kimble deeper into the backyard yard. The place was large, bordered by tall, full trees. Just like with the front, there wasn’t any lawn at all. At the center was a rectangular pool surrounded by lounge chairs, tables, and umbrellas. The back third of the space was a child’s play area with swings, a climbingstructure, and a wooden platform on squat springs. The ground was some kind of springy composite painted in bright colors.

About a dozen kids stopped playing long enough to look over at them, then went back to their activities. No one was in the pool, but by the looks of the wet footprints, there’d recently been children in there.

“Your timing is perfect!” a feminine voice said and stepped out from behind a smoking grill. “Dinner’s finally ready.”

“Hi Janet!” Cora said with a little wave of her free hand. “We ate earlier, but if you brought some of your peanut butter brownies, I’ll have an entire plate of them.”

“I’ll grab you some,” Janet said before bustling off into the house.

A silver-haired man with a graying beard stepped away from the grill with a large shiny spatula clutched in his hand.

“You already ate? What kind of bullshit is that?” he asked with a frown.

Cora didn’t respond to the question, and her smile turned forced. She tightened her hold on him as they walked toward the man. This was clearly her father. Unlike all the brothers with their darker skin tones and long, thin faces, Cora's pale skin and round face resembled this man. Her siblings must take after her mother while she took after her father.

“Hi Dad, this is Pike and Kimble.”

“I heard,” he grunted, first eyeing Kimble, then turning his attention to Pike.

Cora ignored his grunt and finished the introduction. “Guys, this is my father, Daniel.”

Pike tried to smile and held out a hand. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”

Daniel eyed Pike’s hand before accepting the handshake and then letting go as if he was afraid Pike would try to crush his hand. “Cooper wasn’t exaggerating, you’re a big motherfucker. Built like a brick shithouse!”

Pike winced and tried to figure out what to say. He wasn’t used to all the casual cussing with so many children running around. Thankfully, Cora saved him, or maybe avenged him would be a better word.

“Watch your language Dad,” Cora hissed.

“What?” Daniel feigned innocence. “These kids got to learn how to talk like men.”

“Fuck yes they do,” Cora agreed in a mock shout, then nodded her head toward the house. “Let me just grab Janet and tell her what you said.”

Daniel looked momentarily scared. “She brought an extra pan of brownies for me. It’s yours if you don’t say anything.”

Cora grinned. “Deal.”

Daniel shook his head and turned his attention to Kimble. “Why are you wearing sunglasses at night? It’s all kinds of suspicious, don’t you think?”

“Sensitive eyes,” Kimble answered, deliberately making his accent thick.

“He’s got an issue with his vision and needs them,” Cora added.

Daniel frowned at Kimble. “Where’d you come from?”

“Cora’s home,” Kimble answered.

Pike stifled a laugh as Daniel’s frown turned to a scowl. Cora didn’t bother hiding her amusement. “No more questions, Dad. It’s been a rough few weeks for all of us, and I want to hang out and relax.”

“Then you’re going to need this,” said a black-haired man as he swooped in with three bottles of beer clutched in his hands.

“Thanks,” Pike said as he took one. They’d agreed earlier that Kimble should take whatever anyone offered, and Pike or Cora would consume it when no one was paying attention. That way, it would be less obvious Kimble wasn’t drinking or eating.

“Thanks, Caleb,” Cora said before taking a sip of her beer.

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