Incendiary (Inferno 4)

Chapter Twelve

“You scared me!” he declares with a nervous laugh when he turns around and finds me leaning against the kitchen counter.

“Can’t imagine why,” I reply evenly. “Unless of course, you forgot to check our stock.”

“I didn’t, Dad. I swear. See?”

I crane my neck enough to see him pulling some kind of flip notepad out of the pantry and hand it to me.

I arch an eyebrow as I look at his notes.

There are dates and times that everything has been checked, including quantities.

“I see you got this from your mother,” I say as I hand the notepad back.

“Yeah. Um, we don’t really need anything. Not for another week or so,” he replies uncomfortably as he sets his ledger back into the pantry and closes the door.

“I found more roots outside,” I state, changing the subject. If I can’t get him for one fuck up, I’ll get him for another one.

“I don’t know where those came from. Every time I go outside, I’m working on things.”

“Getting rather mouthy, aren’t you?” I snap at him.

He shoves his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants and lowers his eyes to the floor.

“Sorry,” he replies quietly.

I let out a sigh.

“Go on and get some breakfast in you. We’ve got another lesson to go over today, and I want you both full this time.”

As I turn to make my way back to the dining room, Richter pipes up again.

“Dad?”

I take a deep breath, count to three, then turn to face him.

“Why is being full important?”

I smirk.

“Food gives you energy and stamina. Remember that on those cold nights when I’m gone, and you need your sister to take care of you. Keep her fed and she’ll keep you fucked.”

* * *

I watched the boy inhale his breakfast.

In a way, I understand his eagerness, but if he chokes to death trying to get another piece of his sister, then what I’ve taught them so far will have been a waste of time.

That should be the motto of the children in this family, I muse to myself as I flip to the last page of the paper.

“Was it good, Daddy?”

I nod without glancing up at the girl.

I finished my breakfast before they did, and I’ve been sitting here as patiently as I can waiting for them to catch up.

While I’m not a man of patience, some things require it.