Page 95 of Three

“Yes, it is,” both Ramiel and Michael say at the same time, smiling at each other.

“There’s a snake behind you,” Raph suddenly tells me, protectively pulling his husband higher on his lap.

“What?” Michael tenses while Uri grabs his knife, looking ready to throw it at George.

“No!” Ramiel yells. “It’s a pet.”

“A pet snake?” Uri tilts his head, staring curiously at the slithering reptile disappearing into the corridor. “And a horny, furry pig? Weird combination.” He points at Maple trying to hump the sofa leg.

“Is the Nightster upfront yours?” Raph suddenly asks about my Harley. I nod.

“So you can try teaching my brother how to pick a vehicle. Rami has horrible taste. His electrical sardine can on wheels is ridiculous.” Raph scoffs after describing what I believe is Rami’s Hyundai. My boyfriend chooses to flip his brother the bird.

“Gabe and Lori are here,” the AI lets us know. They don’t enter through the front door, though, but use the back one.

“Stop following me!” I hear Lori muttering before he appears with Gabe, the brother from the alley. Tall and poised with sleek blond hair and wearing a pricey-looking three-piece suit.

“Not following you,” Gabe says. I remember his voice from that night, the toneless way he talks. Lacking any kind of emotion. I didn’t imagine it.

“Hello again, Magnum P.I.” Lori smirks at me.

Nobody seems to sleep in this family. It’s past midnight.I stroke my face tiredly.

“Why are you coming through the back door?” I ask.

“Because…back door guests are the best,” Lori teases. He’s wearing a glamorous kilt with high boots and a red cable knit sweater.

“They are,” Ramiel agrees, winking at me. Only he can make me switch from tense and troubled to amused this fast.

“I wanted to check out the barn since Offspring two kept talking about it yesterday. I might have woken the guys up by the way,” Lori confesses without a bit of shame.

“The wicked trio is in the barn?” I nod at Ramiel.

“What boys?” Gabe asks, phone in hand; he doesn’t look interested though.

“Magnum P.I. has teen triplets living with him,” Ramiel says.

“Oh, Ollie,” Lori exclaims and sets his phone on the table with the speaker on. “Are you and KKJ there?”

“Stop calling Rague that! He’s not King Kong Junior!” The scolding male voice is followed by a much deeper groan.

“Yeah! Hulky suits him better,” Ramiel teases, earning a sigh from Ollie.

“Hello again, Hunter,” Gabe decides to address me. His tone is assertive and commanding, like he’s used to being in charge.

I nod, and he turns to Ramiel, dismissing me the next moment. “So you got shot.”

“We all saw Rami’s Jeep outside, or what remains of it,” Raph says.

“We didn’t!” Ollie’s voice comes from the phone. “And nice to meet you, Hunter. We’re sorry not to be there.”

“But one word and we’ll come. I have a barrel of acid in my car or we could use fire.” A deeper voice—Rague’s I guess—resounds in the room.Acid? Fire?

“You still keep it in your car? We talk about this,” Gabe says.

“I appreciate it, Human Torch. But you don’t need to come,” Ramiel answers Rague.

“Is the shooting related to the priest’s murder?” Michael goes back to the previous conversation.