#Chapter 23 – Sick Twins

The next morning, Betas who hustle about Victor’s kitchen as he enters it, making phone calls, surveying the sight-lines from the kitchen and living room. “Good,” he says, nodding.

“Good morning, baby,” Amelia purrs, pressing a hot cup of coffee and cream into his hand and giving him a kiss on the cheek. Victor glances at her and nods, gesturing to the Beta pack leader to come over.

“Thanks for coming early, Edgar,” Victor says. “I want two teams working at all times – one on surveillance of the house, the other doing reconnaissance. I want answers. This can never happen again.”

Edgar nods, swift and efficient. “Yes sir. Apologies, I should have had a bigger team at the parade yesterday – I should have been there myself –“

Victor waves a hand, dismissing it. “The amount of protection you supplied yesterday matched my commands. However, situations have changed – I should have adjusted the instructions to include the boys.”

“Yes…” says Edgar, hesitating. “The…boys. Should I prepare…”

“Yes, Beta, you should prepare your team to protect the two boys at all times. They are my sons, and I will acknowledge them as such as soon as I can arrange it.”

Edgar nods slowly, unable to stop his eyebrows from raising just a little bit.

“Their mother, too, full protection.” Victor continues. “Her name is Evelyn Walsh, though she changed it to Ortega when she went Rogue. They’re living in the property out back,” he says, gesturing towards the back windows. “I want you on all three of them, full time care.”

Edgar nods and salutes. “Yes sir.”

“We start now, Beta. Any questions?”

“No sir,” Edgar says.

“Good.” Victor nods and drains his coffee. “You stay here, start organizing the patrols. I’ll take the reconnaissance team with me to the office to start research.”

Edgar moves back towards his men, giving his own orders. Amelia appears beside Victor and he smiles at her, putting an arm around her shoulders. “I’ll see you tonight, baby?” she asks.

Victor nods. “I’m going to drop in and see the boys when I come back from the office,” he replies. “But I’ll be home for dinner.” Amelia gives him a smile as Victor puts his coffee up in the sink and snaps, drawing the Betas to order.

“Let’s move out, boys.” The Betas salute as one and then head out of the house, Victor at their tail.

“Victor,” Amelia calls as he goes. He turns and waits as she catches up. “Victor, about Evelyn…well, I was thinking…how much do we really know about her? About where she comes from?”

Victor frowns. “She comes from a very good family, the daughter of Alpha Walsh. Whose reputation, surely, you know.”

“Yessss…”Amelia says softly. “I do know of Walsh, though I didn’t know he had another daughter. Especially a Rogue daughter. Do you think…” she hesitates again.

Can you just

told him about his grandchildren? Or did she keep it a secret from him, like she did from you? Is there any

have kept the boys secret from everyone, and an Alpha grandfather would want his only

Amelia,” Victor says, giving her a swift kiss and heading out the door. “This

you tonight,” she murmurs, blowing on her coffee and closing the door

as he wanders into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes. I finish chopping the bell

ask, opening my arms. Ian comes forward and I look over his clammy skin, his glassy eyes. “Open your mouth, stick out your tongue,” I say. He does so and I note that his throat is inflamed. “What

rubbing his eyes. “And I

as well. Sure enough, Alvin comes into the

a moment and then stand up. “Okay, boys, battle stations. Upstairs, pajamas on.

they hate going to bed early under all conditions – but I clap my hands, silencing them. “Up, go.” I

they head up the stairs, I turn off the pan and place a lid on it. Chicken fajitas will have to wait – it’s nothing but chicken soup tonight. As I move to the cabinet to bring down a can

knock?” I

for a

I live here, I pay rent. I

closes the door.

might want to head home – I know you were scheduled for a visit, but

tense. “They’re sick? With what? What’s

big deal, Victor. They’re just not feeling well – it’s probably just

fevers?” He moves to take off

“I don’t know –“

take

two seconds ago, Victor!” I chase him to the

A command, not

even though he can’t see me anymore and head back into

room, the plastic thermometer in his hands. “No, daddy,” Ian says, whining. “It

are taken under

illness making him impatient. “You’re

“They’re right, it’s a new kind of thermometer. It’s not 1950 anymore.” Ian obligingly turns his ear to me and I place the

temperature of 103. “Is that, um…is that high?” Victor asks, clearly

well. “But not too high.”

the boys tightly into their beds, wrapping them in blankets like little mummies so they can hardly move.

their beds a little helplessly, watching me work. “What do we

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