Page 73 of Monster

Epilogue

A month later…

The cacophony of hammers around Luca was maddening, yet there was excitement in it too. He looked up to the sky and sensed the first snow of the season headed their way. “We need to get this roof done before that storm hits,” he yelled out before taking down the next shingle.

“Come on, snow and ice!” Jaeger cried.He sat a few feet away in a sleeveless t-shirt, making them all shudder with cold.

“You’re sick and twisted,” Drake called out. “I don’t know how I could think of you as my brother.”

“You know you love me!” Jaeger yelled before hammering another shingle in.

“I’ll love you even more if you hurry the hell up.I can’t feel my fingers anymore,” Bull spat.

“Amen,” Jericho said.“I’m almost sure one finger just fell off me.”

“We’re almost done.We need to make sure the house is good and warm for Pablo and the baby,” Luca said.

“Isn’t that my line?” Bull asked.

“I can be a worried grandfather just as easily as you can be a worried father.”

“Pablo’s already yelling at us as it is.Someone else worrying over him is going to drive him insane,” Jericho said with a grin.

Bull moved closer to Luca.“Finished my spot. Thought I could help you get this one done.”

Luca turned to smile at his son. “Sounds like a plan.”

Quietly, they worked together, finishing the last two rows of shingles along that side.

“Thanks for this,” Bull murmured.“We appreciate the help.”

“That’s what family’s for, right?” Luca asked with a smile.

“Indeed it is,” Bull said, a grin on his face.

Working together, they all finished up the last of the shingles and climbed down.An old pick-up started coming up the drive. Luca saw it was Cal, one of the other beasts freed from Zed.

He lowered the truck’s window and pointed to the cab.“I knew you guys were busy with repairs, and I wasn’t sure if you’d thought about stocking up on firewood.”

The back of the truck was full.

“You’re a lifesaver,” Bull said.“We have some, but if this storm’s bad, it might not be enough.”

“Well, I brought wood and helpers,” Cal said.

Two more men waved from the passenger side and cab.

“We can help unload, too.Make sure you guys get home before the storm hits,” Luca said.He turned to Drake and Jaeger.“You guys willing to help offload some firewood?”

“Sure thing,” Drake said, moving the ladder down and laying it along the side of the house.“Where we taking it?”

“Back porch,” Bull said before turning to Cal.“Wanna drive back there?”

“Sure thing,” Cal said before taking off.

“Who was that? In the backseat?” Jaeger asked, suddenly at their side.

Bull frowned.“You mean Dario?”

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