Chapter 49
Ender rested back in the wooden chair with a happy sigh as he finished the last bite of his scrambled cheese eggs, rubbing his stomach. He felt comfortably full.
He eyed Cyrus and Killian, who had just finished eating as well. It was only them at the table. It was odd having the two there, but also just strange to have anyone finish eating with him, aside from Soren. Though even his brother tended to eat faster than him.
Though, as of late, he may have possibly missed a few meals, or…had maybe gotten angry during said meals and overturned the table. Just possibly…
Ender wasn’t sure why he was surprised to find the table full of food and the room empty of people when they’d returned to the dining room.
Those who usually ate with him did tend to eat their food like someone was about to snatch it from their plates.
Ender hadn’t managed to break them of that habit, despite how long most of them had been there.
Finally fed, the question now was how long did these two intend to stay…and would he actually let them? Would he even be able to let them leave?
Despite his earlier denials, the idea sort of made him feel a bit violent—ughhh.
Ender sighed as he stopped ignoring that the two men were staring back at him.
“I suppose I wouldn’t be fully opposed to you two staying here.
Unless you lied about quitting the Bureau, and in that case, well, you still win, as you definitely won’t be leaving, but you may also not be breathing for much longer. ”
At least, only as long as it took for him to give birth, because he would not be dealing with pregnancy hormones and dead baby daddies at the same time.
Cyrus wiped his mouth with a napkin. “We didn’t lie. And we were also careful when we came here. We ditched our normal phones, and disabled the trackers. Killian can tell you the specifics, if you are worried about it.”
He was about to dismiss the idea when he realized he couldn’t, despite knowing that Killian knew what the fuck he was doing. Ender just didn’t have it in his paranoid ass to not know exactly what precautions were taken. Hell, had anyone even checked their car when they arrived?!
“I’ll send someone to check your car out, and Killian, you can make me a list later. But as I can’t say I trust technology that I don’t know the source of, give me your phones. Open them up before you do.”
Killian pulled out a small purple cube on a keychain from his pants pocket.
On opening, it unfolded into a full-sized phone and he slid it over to him.
Cyrus tugged a chain from around his neck.
The phone was the same shape as Killian’s, but a forest-green color, and the man slid it over as well after opening it.
“They aren’t from the Bureau, if that is what you are worried about,” Killian needlessly informed him. “I set them up myself.”
“I’m aware,” Ender snorted. “The Bureau wouldn’t spend so much on phones.”
They were made by Face Tech. He knew the brand well, and his group even used some of the shit they made, but while trustworthy, it was all expensive as fuck.
Picking them up, he went through them one at a time, mostly finding what he expected, aside from a few programs that he knew were likely hand coded by Killian himself.
But the functions of said programs weren’t exactly suspicious, so whatever.
He couldn’t help but note that Cyrus’ appeared to be new, or at least unused.
After a minute more of digging and searching the codes on the phone, and finding nothing to worry about, he closed them and slid them back to their owners. “Clean. It is curious that Cyrus’ appears to be unused though.”
Killian pocketed his phone, while, somewhat testily, saying, “Cyrus managed to destroy his old one before leaving the Bureau.”
His brow rose at that, as the phones were pretty durable. Well, unless one used their full fucking strength…
The Fate winced. “It was an accident.”
“I’m sure it was,” Ender snorted. “It is surprising there are no missed calls.”
Killian tilted his head slightly. “Can’t deny that. It is a bit surprising that your parents haven’t called yet, Cyrus, or rather, Severo’s.”
Ender grimaced. “Right, you’re close to those two troublemakers, aren’t you?” He wrinkled his nose.
He had a feeling it would be best if he avoided checking the phone that he knew the two Shadow Dwellers had access to for messages.
“Ah, what’s this? Even the great Ender worries when dealing with those two?” Killian teased.
He scoffed. “The word you are looking for is cautious. I am cautious, and only because they are a mighty big pain in the rear when you piss them off.”
Caution was always recommended when dealing with people who had both the resources and the money to fuck your shit up.
“That they are,” Cyrus sighed. “But they also don’t have this number. Or yours, for that matter, Killian. For now, that is. I’m sure Severo is all that is currently standing between them and us.”
“They wouldn’t need Severo to get your numbers,” Ender chuckled.
“They wouldn’t. But I doubt they are viewing this situation as urgent at the moment. As for my parents, they are probably waiting for me to call, but that will only last as long as they are willing to put up with our relatives badgering them.”
“Which won’t be for long, so you should probably call as soon as you can,” Killian noted with a smirk.
Cyrus smiled hesitantly at him. “Is there a place I can go for privacy?”
Ender’s eyes narrowed. “Privacy is not a privilege we have here.”
“Look, I don’t care about your cameras, and no doubt your listening devices. I’d just rather not get berated over the phone while others are physically in the room with me.”
“I don’t know,” the Siren mused. “I doubt they’ll care much about you quitting. It's likely they will even be happy about it.”
Ender frowned. Why would they be happy?
The Fate rolled his eyes. “No doubt, it’s more all the other stuff we kept from them.”
“Yeah, good luck with that,” Killian snickered.
“Baby, you are all heart.”
“Mhmm,” the Siren purred.
“So…” Cyrus eyed him.
He pursed his lips. “Your parents are Orion and Vivian Grimm?”
“Yes…?”
His brow pinched as he tried to think over what he knew about Cyrus’ parents.
While the Grimm population was technically on the small side, it was large enough that he tended to not keep track of the ones not directly involved in the Bureau.
While he knew for a fact they were not, there was something about their names that was familiar…
Oddly, it was more than just knowing them as the parents of the possibly former director of the North American Bureau Headquarters.
Yet, he was drawing a blank. Or rather, the memories refused to come forward. And that bothered him. Knowing something but not remembering could mean the memories were just that old…or possibly, the more likely reason, someone or something had put a block in place…
Ender supposed he had time to figure it out.
At the very least, he knew the two were not involved with the Bureau.
In fact, he was pretty sure, based on what he did remember, it was like the two had purposely tried to separate themselves from the other Fates.
Which was curious, but it didn’t exactly make them a threat to him or the organization at the moment.
Well, unless whatever was blocked was important. If anything at all was in fact blocked. Either way, he’d find out eventually.
“Fine. You can have your ‘privacy’. Based on what I remember from last night, you should know where my chickens are. Go there, you’ll be alone, aside from my flock.”
Cyrus hesitated for a moment before asking, “Won’t they attack me?”
“My chickens?” He smirked. “They shouldn’t if I’m not there.”
The man nodded. “Good to know.”
Ender watched the Fate leave before looking to Killian. “No family you want to call?”
“You mean the family that we both know hired traffickers to kidnap me?”
“Yeah, that family.”
“I’d rather be set on fire.”
“Good choice,” Ender laughed, before asking, “So, now what?”
“I suppose, if we can stay, now would be a good time to try to figure out what exactly Cyrus and I can do here? I mean, you know my work with computers—”
“Full offence, I don’t trust you enough to let you near our systems.”
Killian snorted. “I suppose I wouldn’t either in your position.”
“Do you two really want to stay? Permanently?”
It was hard to believe. But then, Ender was still struggling to believe that they had actually quit their jobs and just up and drove their asses there.
Killian licked his lips. “I mean, yes. At the very least, until the babies are in college. Regardless of what capacity, we are staying.”
His gaze narrowed on the way too beautiful man. “And the meaning of that is?”
“I don’t know. Co-parents is the obvious option, but…”
“But?”
“I can’t answer that before talking to Cyrus. I’ll admit, we should have talked more on the drive here, but we mostly spent the time wrapping our heads around our impending fatherhood.”
“Don’t bother. It would and will be a wasted talk. I’m afraid all that is here for you two is co-parenting,” Ender said succinctly. “Don’t stress your relationship because of little old me, I’m not interested.”
“Fair enough,” Killian replied, but the way he said it made him think the man was not actually agreeing with him.
He sighed, his eyes trailing over the Siren. Regardless, Soren was likely correct. His instincts probably wouldn’t let them leave at this point. Though, he could always try to kick them out after the babies were laid? Maybe…
“I suppose…I won’t keep you away if you want to be here.” His eyes narrowed. “That being said, I need you two to stay the fuck out of my way, and out of my business until I trust you enough to be involved.”
Killian raised a single brow in question. “How can you learn to trust us if we are staying out of your way?”
Ender shrugged. “Not my problem to figure out, now, is it?”
The Siren scoffed. “You just thrive on being a pain in the ass, don’t you?”
“Yep!” He chuckled. “Now…I have some calls to make. Stay here, don’t snoop, I’ll send someone and have them prepare a room for you both.”
Killian frowned. “Why?”
Ender blinked. “What do you mean ‘why’?”
“The doctor told us to stay close to you, because the closer we stay, the better your mood. So it only makes sense that Cyrus and I stay in your room.”
“Well, she is full of shit!” he hissed.
“Ender, you were turning people into stone and attacking others with chickens when we arrived. Not to mention, you were clearly exhausted and stressed out. We’ve only been here a few hours, and even with most of them spent asleep, you already seem worlds better.”
Ugh, fucking blabbermouth doctor!
“FINE! Stay in my room, but don’t touch anything, and don’t poke around. And just so you know, it’s only until the babies are laid,” he snapped, before grumbling, “Making such a big deal out of nothing. It’s not like the people I turned to stone are going to die! They’ll be fine in a few days!”
“Days?” Killian pressed.
“I’ll unfreeze them later today, okay?!” Ender huffed, pushing up from his chair.
“Can I use your shower?”
He waved his hand dismissively as he left.