Page 56 of Treasure and Tarot

“Wow,” Xander said as they all trooped into the banquet room they had commandeered. “You brought me food too?”

Iago bounced over to hand him a bag. “What? You’ve been feeding us for days and days.”

“Thanks.” Xander peered into the bag. “Oh, a double with bacon.”

“Yep. And we got shakes for all.”

Sebastian cleared his throat. “Look, I need to know what happened.”

Xavi held out his hand to Abby. “Want to sit and eat with me over at your table, Abby?”

Abby shook her head. “No. Want Papa.”

Xavi blinked. “You don’t want to come with me?”

She shook her head, her little pigtails whipping around. “No. I want to sit with Papa.”

Xavi glared at Colton, pointed one finger. “I blame you for this. She never once ever told me no before.”

“I’m sorry.” Colton didn’t look sorry. In fact, Colton didn’t even look the slightest bit contrite, like he was absolutely one hundred percent overjoyed about this particular situation. “We’ll talk after lunch, okay? Someone needs to sit with her Papa right now.”

“Don’t make me hurt you.” Sebastian muttered at Colton, under his breath. “I’m going to go sit with Xavi.”

“Oh no. No, no, no. We are not playing this game.” Xander, in his whole bizarre-assed alpha weirdness, kind of scooped them both up and sat them both at the table with Colton and Abby. “We are all being a family. The biggest family ever.”

Abby’s eyes lit up. “Everybody’s my family here?”

Xander looked around. “Yes, ma’am. We are all your family, and so we are all going to sit and have lunch together like a family and not be pouty. Right, Daddy?”

“Uh-huh.” What was he supposed to say to that? No?

Colton wrapped one arm around him and scooted him closer. “Sounds perfect to me.”

Abby ate, happily chatting to Colton the entire time, only stopping once when Thierry walked in with Mason. “Who are you?”

“I’m Thierry.” The man was pale, dark shadows under his eyes. He looked shaken, to be honest.

“I’m Abby. Are you my family too?”

Thierry nodded. “Yes. I do believe that after this afternoon, I most definitely qualify as family. What say you, Hank?”

“Bring it on. It takes a village.” Hank winked at him.

Sebastian fought not to roll his eyes. “Yep. A whole village plus another town over the mountain.” Hank enlisted all sorts of folks to help, and he knew it.

“Yep!” Hank dug out his burger, smacking his lips, which made Abby giggle madly.

Xavi was kind of picking at his fries, so Abby leaned over to poke him. “Hey! I love you.”

Xavi just beamed at her and poked her back gently. “I love you too, Ladybug. So much.”

She nodded. Then she looked at Colton. “Dis my Xavi, and dis my Xander. They’s my goddaddies.”

“You’re so lucky you have two goddaddies.”

She nodded. “I am. I have them since before I was born out of Daddy’s tummy.”

“You are the luckiest little girl ever.” Colton looked at Xavi and then it Xander. “I’m so glad that you and your daddy had both of these guys to help out. They are good friends.”

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