“Master Cross,” an ancient yet powerful-looking butler removed his coat, “I see that your rescue attempt was a great success.”
James shrugged out of the jacket with a devilish grin.
“I’m thinking of doing them professionally...”
&nb
sp; “And you,” the butler turned to Nick and me as our coats were similarly removed, “allow me to offer my congratulations to the happy couple. I must say, Master Hunter, all of us were rather...surprised to hear your news. But we are so pleased for you nonetheless.”
“Relax, Ferdie.” James kicked off his dress shoes, and began loosening his tie. “They’re not really getting married—it’s a stunt. You don’t need to congratulate them.”
Nick chuckled, but my eyes went wide as saucers. How many people were standing in the room right now? How many of them would leak that straight to the press?!
James saw my panicked expression, and shook his head with a steady smile.
“Iron-clad confidentiality agreements. Your secret is safe.”
Nick nodded behind him, and I pulled in a shaky breath.
“...okay.”
As if to reassure me further, ‘Ferdie’ bowed his head graciously and gestured me further inside. “We figured you children might be hungry after your travels, so Gerta fixed you some snacks and hot chocolate. They’re just in the kitchen.”
Children. It still cracked me up that, even though all of us were in our early twenties, and two of us had the power to influence the US stock market with an errant text, every single person in our world still referred to us as children.
“Thank you,” I said politely, as Nick sauntered forward and clapped him on the shoulder with a familiar smile.
“Thanks, Ferdie. And it’s good to see you again.”
The man smiled warmly. Nick had spent so much time at the house as a child, that he had literally watched him grow up.
“And you too, Master Hunter. I believe the last time we had the pleasure, you were hiding out from a Nicaraguan governmental death squad.” His eyes crinkled with an indulgent chuckle. “So glad that phase has passed.”
...phase?
Probably sensing that I had reached the end of my rope, both James and Nick took me by the arm and led me away between them. On the way to the kitchen, James called out to the staff.
“Guys, we’re probably just going to take this stuff out for a picnic bonfire. Thanks for waiting up, but you’re all more than welcome to call it a night.”
No one moved an inch. Ferdie even went so far as to shake his head with paternal exasperation. Such requests were kind, but the staff had an honor code to protect. They would man the house, as long as the man of the house was awake—and not retire a second before.
They simply waved us on, as we disappeared into the kitchen to find out what snacks this mysterious Gerta had left behind.
Chapter 17
TWENTY MINUTES LATER, I was wrapped in a thick blanket, sipping a mug of hot chocolate on the pebbly shore of the lake, watching two grown men digress into little boys as they argued about the best way to start a fire. Seeing as they’d both already tried repeatedly, I was beginning to suspect that the problem might not be the equipment. It might be a suspicious lack of skill.
“I’m telling you, the kindling base is wet,” Nick insisted. “That’s why it’s not lighting.”
“The kindling is fine,” James countered in frustration. “It’s that damn pyramid that you built up around it—it’s smothering all the air.”
“Pyramids are the standard—”
“They’re a thing of the past! Didn’t you watch that video I sent you last month about that guy who was filming tamarins in Brazil? He had to light this fire, and before he did—”
“For fuck’s sake!” Nick cursed. “Only you would somehow drag a Brazilian rodent into the debate. It’s a simple matter of physics...”
He trailed off as I pushed silently to my feet and stood between them. I handed James my blanket, Nick my drink, then knelt quickly beside the stack of logs. A few seconds later, bright flames were shooting up in every direction—crackling happily against the wood.