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“What is it, Jamie?”

“My parents are being indicted for money laundering and tax fraud.”

Holy shitis right.

“Over ten years of tax fraud, according to the article, from an anonymous tip-off late last year, and then they discovered the money laundering.”

“Whoa. Late last year? That’s an enormous coincidence,” Rowan says, dumping Grayson on the couch beside Nix before heading into the kitchen.

Thank goodness, because Nix could eat enough for an army.

“Down, please,” Luca says from his upside-down position over Gideon’s shoulder, before smacking his ass with both hands. “Down. I need bacon to regain my depleted strength.”

It draws Nix’s attention to Gideon. There, on his handsome face, is what can only be called the smuggest of grins.

Gideon, what did you do?

Wrapped in Carmine (Jay)

The news article Finn shares with them appears in theClearwater Morning Herald. The smallest tidbit of news is at the end of the crime section. It only made the news, really, because of his father’s connection to several national charities. And of course, the money laundering.

Embezzlement, money laundering and tax evasion? That doesn’t surprise Jay at all. His father has always felt antipathy for the law and lawmakers; he always used any loophole to take advantage of those whom he felt were too stupid to play the game without rules. It contributed to Jay’s overwhelming inclination to fit within society’s parameters and he became a stickler for what he perceived as honor, despite his father’s disdain for it.

Learning his parents had stepped into the bigger playing field of serious illegal activities shouldn’t be a shock at all, but…it still is. It’s part of what has him sitting, holding a piece of bacon (very crisp, thank you) two inches in front of his face.

A small, warm hand pushes it toward his lips, and it startles him out of his stupor.

“Jamie. You’re supposed to put it in your mouth.” Nix smiles gently at him from his normal meal-time place in Jay’s lap.

“That’s what he said,” Luca murmurs from Gideon’s lap, and fist-bumps Rowan next to him.

“You should know,” Grayson mutters back.

It would normally be funny.

That’s usually how it goes, with his family around the table as they laugh and eat and rib each other. Right now, though, they’re all trying to keepit normal, but are totally “phoning it in.” The tension is too high for their regular hijinks, and that makes his anger settle into a slow burn. It’s one more way his parents are still influencing a life that he’d long thought was separated.

Jay lets Nix put the bacon in his mouth, and then a forkful of cold egg. “No more, Nix. Thank you. You eat it.”

“You have to eat, Jamie,” Nix wheedles, as he’s still sensitive to issues around food and the idea that anyone might be even slightly peckish is unsettling to him. It’s another thing Jay can lay at his parents’ feet.

“I know, it’s just…this makes me sick.”

Gideon huffs and rolls his eyes.

“Gid,” Jay sighs. It’s not like his mate to be passive-aggressive, and it doesn’t sit well with him at all. “Spit it out.”

In response, he pushes back his chair and hands Luca off to Finn, so that he can lean over the table and get up in Jay’s face. “You said you were done with them. I asked you before I did anything. And now you’re…pissed at me for telling them off?”

Pissed? He’s not mad at Gideon, and he says so. Emphatically.

“Why would I be mad at you? I’m pissed at my Dad, for betraying the trust of several charitable organizations, defrauding the government, and now he’s laundering money.” On top of all the other shit his parents have done. “That’s probably not all, either, knowing them. I’m processing.”

His mate’s eyes squeeze shut for a minute, and the scent of a thunderstorm turns into the sweet relief of rain. “Oh.”

It never ceases to surprise Jay when Gideon so visibly cares what he thinks. Jay knows he does, but Gideon lives unapologetically out loud while harboring self-worth doubts. It’s shocking to have that where everyone can see.

“Yeah, oh. But I want to hear why you’re so relieved. That’s got to be interesting.”