“Ready for us?” Dutch asked.
“I’m calling a meeting of all the partners. Eighty-eight is still out of commission. Otherwise, those who aren’t already here, are flying in.”
“When and where?”
“This afternoon, if we can make it happen, and we’re coming to you.”
“Anything you can tell me in advance?”
“Negative.”
“What’s going on?” said Malin, who had just come down the stairs.
“K19 meeting here this afternoon.”
“What about Striker?”
Dutch told her he didn’t think to ask about him. However, if he’d been in the ICU just yesterday, he doubted there would be a way the man could travel to the meeting.
“I want to talk to Burns.”
Dutch nodded. “I’ll see if I can find him.”
When he answered Dutch’s call, Burns invited them to come up to the main house for breakfast, telling Dutch they’d talk after they’d eaten.
—:—
Malin wasn’t hungry until she walked into the house and the smell of bacon wafted through the air.
“Good morning,” said Bradley who was sitting in a chair, feeding the baby while Naughton sat on the arm of the chair rubbing her neck.
“Long night without much sleep,” he murmured.
“Is the baby okay?” Malin asked.
Before either of them could answer, Sorcha came out of the kitchen. “Karma,” she said as she set a platter of breakfast meats on the table. “Naughton had no interest in sleeping once the sun set.”
He shook his head, rolled his eyes, and looked at Dutch. “I heard my big brother will be here later today.”
“Affirmative.”
“Not just him,” said Sorcha. “We’ll have a crowd for dinner tonight.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Malin offered.
Sorcha leaned in closer to her. “No, lass. You’ll be quite busy this afternoon,” she whispered.
“It sounds like you know more than I do.”
“She usually knows more than the rest of us,” said Burns, walking up behind them with more platters of food.
—:—
Two more of Doc’s brothers showed up with their wives and babies right after they’d been seated, and joined them at the table, making for a boisterous meal.
Dutch watched Malin as they ate. She was subdued, as he usually was whenever he was with a large group of people. As an only child who had spent most of her life with no one other than her father, she likely felt as overwhelmed by the number of people at the table as he did.
“How are you holding up?” he asked, leaning in close to her.