Page 4 of Inferno

Chapter 2

When Prissy reached the kitchen doorway an hour later, the scene she encountered could only be described as one of chaotic harmony.

Stan stood at the stove stirring a pot of grits and frying bacon in a pan while quizzing their son, Montana, for a history test.

Magnum was smearing grape jelly on several slices of toast while rapping to his favorite song by the Sugarhill Gang.

Maddox had his nose buried in a Hardy Boys novel, blissfully ignoring Mason’s animated monologue about his football team’s upcoming game.

As Prissy stood there observing her family, a soft, poignant smile curved her lips. These were her men, her heart and soul. She couldn’t imagine what her life would be like without them. She prayed to God that she’d never have to find out.

Mason was the first to notice her standing in the doorway. “Hey, Ma,” he called out cheerfully. “Daddy’s making breakfast.”

Prissy’s smile deepened. “I see that.”

As the others turned to look at her, she couldn’t help marveling at the striking resemblance between her husband and sons. All of the boys had inherited Stan’s beautiful dark skin, deep-set eyes and strong, handsome features. Wherever they went, strangers always remarked on the familial resemblance, which was strong enough to turn any skeptic into a staunch believer of human cloning.

As Prissy padded into the large kitchen, Stan’s appreciative gaze roamed over her tailored gray skirt suit, which she wore with a red camisole and a wide belt.

“You look good, baby,” he told her.

“Thank you,” Prissy said, warming with pleasure. No matter what was going on with her husband, it felt good to know that he still found her attractive. “I have a lot of meetings today, so you know I have to look my best.”

“Which you always do,” Stan said with a wink.

Prissy smiled gratefully at him. Reaching the large oak breakfast table where Maddox and Mason were seated, she kissed the top of her sons’ heads before exclaiming to Maddox, “I can’t believe you started that book last night and you’ve almost finished it!”

“It’sgood, Ma,” Maddox declared.

“Apparently so.We’ll have to make another trip to the library soon.” Prissy glanced across the room at Magnum. “Boy, how much jelly are you going to put on that toast?”

“What?” He glanced down at the slice of toast in question. “This ain’t too much.”

“Isn’t,” Prissy corrected, crossing the room to retrieve a mug from the cabinet. “And, yes, itistoo much.”

Magnum merely grinned.

“I was just about to make the eggs,” Stan told Prissy as she helped herself to some of his strong black coffee—typical firefighter’s brew. “Everything else is ready.”

“Thank you, baby.”Prissy kissed his stubble-roughened jaw and rubbed his broad back. After adding cream and sugar to her coffee, she took a careful sip, eyeing Montana over the rim of her mug.“Ready for the test?”

“I think so.”

Stan cocked a brow at Montana. “Youthinkso?”

The boy grinned weakly, flashing dimples. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

Stan nodded approvingly. “That’s more like it.”

Prissy looked around the kitchen, belatedly noticing the absence of her eldest son. “Where’s Manny?”

His brothers exchanged glances and shrugged. “Probably still asleep,” Magnum suggested.

“He’d better not be,” Prissy muttered, setting her mug down on the counter and striding purposefully from the kitchen.

She made her way past the tastefully furnished living room and up the staircase to the second floor. When she reached Manning’s bedroom at the end of the hallway, she knocked on the door.

“Manny?” she called.