Page 96 of Mysteries, Menace, and Mates

“You know what?” Eve nuzzled his hair. “I can help.”

He drew back, gazing into her liquid brown eyes. “How?”

She smiled. “You’re looking at the owner of Gawthorpe Hall, Lancashire. An Elizabethan property with forty acres of land. I could do a lot with forty acres. But right now I have a house—and several outbuildings and former stables—that are big enough to provide space for a lot of children. The first Dellan Carson orphanage….”

Dellan sat up, his heart hammering. “You’d… you’d do that?”

She chuckled. “What’s the alternative? Leave it to the nation so thousands of tourists can pass through its doors every year, paying to gawk at the architecture, the drapes, the furniture?” Eve locked gazes with him. “Or gift it to a man who Iknowwill use it for good.”

“Gift it? You can’t simply hand it over.”

“Of course I can.”

“But… it could provide you with an income.”

Eve smiled. “I already have that. How else could I afford its upkeep? Grandfather left me enough to maintain the place.” Her eyes sparkled. “He probably never imagined what I’d do with it. And right now he’s listening and throwing the biggest tantrum Heaven—or Hell—has ever seen.”

“But—”

“And I discussed it with the boys last night. We promised to all look out for each other, so we’re good on money.” She grinned. “Besides, Hashtag has a few tech ideas that might prove pretty lucrative, so you really don’t need to worry about us.” She bit her lip. “I do have one proviso.”

“Name it.”

“Part of it will remain mine, for accommodation purposes. Because my mates and I will need a place to live—when I’m leading a Fridan team under Richard Deveraux.”

He stilled. “The guy whose place we all stayed in?”

Eve nodded. “He’s asked me to stay and work with him, and I said yes.”

“Nowthatis sweet.”

“Whatis?”

Dellan smiled. “The thought of Hashtag and Roadkill living in an Elizabethan stately home.”

She laughed. “The way their eyes lit up when they saw the master bedroom? I think they’ll take to it like a duck to water.” Eve cocked her head. “Well? Is it a deal?”

Dellan held out his hand. “It is.” They shook. “And thank you. The first orphanage of many. Except this one won’t be named after me.”

The Alec Carson Foundation had a better ring to it.

On the arm of the couch, Dellan’s phone vibrated, and he glanced at the screen. He smiled. “Dad, Seth, and Brick have landed in Chicago. They’ll be here soon.” He typedGreat. We’ve missed you.Aric’s been demanding rubbies from all of us.Then he froze.

“What’s wrong?”

“Dad says he has something to tell us. Something that is going to rock our world.”

“A good something or a bad something?”

“No idea.” Dellan’s mind raced.

What did you discover in Rome?

In a very short time, they’d find out.

Gods, please let us get some good news for a change.

AELRYN CLIMBEDdown from the belly of the helicopter that had landed on the helipad inside the school grounds. All the way from New York, he’d been on the edge of his seat, unable to sit still, buzzing with anticipation at the thought of seeing Scott again—and meeting Kia. He’d seen her photo, and the sight of her had been enough to set his heart racing, but the idea of meeting her, holding her….

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