“Helpless, Nonny? You’re a holy terror.”

“Let’s eat, son. We’ll figure the rest out on a full stomach.”

Wyatt stood and reached down to help his grandmother up. He hugged her close, inhaling the scent of fresh food that always signaled home to him. “Let’s go rescue breakfast, Nonny. I’m surprised you left Malichai alone with the food. There won’t be much left if we don’ go rescue it.”

She hugged him back hard and then turned and rushed down the stairs, raising her voice. “Malichai Fortunes, don’ you be eatin’ before we sit down and give thanks to the good Lord.”

“I was tasting, not eating,” Malichai called back. “Do you have eyes in the back of your head, Grand-mere? Every cook has got to taste his food.”

“If you did the cookin’ I might believe you, boy, but I did the cookin’ and you keep doin’ the tastin’.”

Ezekiel stood just inside the kitchen laughing as Nonny chased Malichai out of the room with her tea towel. “I’m sorry about my brother’s manners, ma’am. He was raised a heathen, and I suppose there’s no changing him.”

“I’ll cut me a switch out of that tree in the backyard,” Nonny threatened. “Ezekiel, you did good with the boy. He just loves his food a little too much.”

Malichai swept his arm around Nonny, sneaking up on her from behind. “Is there really such a thing as loving food too much, Grand-mere? Especially when you’re the one who did the cooking?”

He kissed her on the cheek. “Watching you cook is a thing of beauty.”

“I’ll admit that’s true,” Wyatt said. He picked up the food warmers and took them to the table.

“Wyatt, bring down the wooden high chair from the attic. It’s right in front covered with an old sheet. Ginger will need it,” Nonny instructed.

“I need to check on Pepper. Ezekiel, do you mind getting the chair?” Wyatt cleared his throat. “While you’re at it, take a good look at the photograph on the wall at the top of the stairs.”

Ezekiel sent him a sharp look. “I looked last night.”

Wyatt let out his breath. He hadn’t even realized he’d been holding it. His gaze shifted to Malichai. Of course Ezekiel would share information with his brother. He read knowledge in Malichai’s eyes.

“Puts a whole different light on things,” Malichai said. “We’ll get those kids out of there, Wyatt.”

“Thanks.” He felt humble.

He was more than lucky to have such good friends, who knew they’d be risking their lives, but didn’t hesitate. And Nonny; who had a grandmother who wouldn’t hesitate to accept children who had lethal bites? He would have to consider how to minimize the risk to her. He couldn’t overlook the fact that an accidental bite from one of the babies could kill. He definitely would have to cap their teeth as an interim solution.

And what the hell was Whitney’s end game? There had to be one. This was no coincidence. Had the attack on his grandmother been orchestrated in order for her to call one of her sons home? Had Whitney known all his brothers were out of the country? That was a possibility, but how could he know Wyatt and the others were wounded? He couldn’t have orchestrated that event. Or could he have? It was odd that his team had been ambushed the way they had. Could Whitney have been behind that?

What had Pepper said? She’d arrived at the laboratory two months earlier with the three children. Two months. Why had they waited two full months before issuing termination orders on the babies?

He stalked back to the bedroom. He could hear the baby laughing as she blew strawberries against Pepper’s neck. The moment he stepped into the room, he felt the love Pepper surrounded the child with. He also felt pain beating at her. Leaning one hip against the doorjamb, he studied the two of them. He knew they were aware of his presence. How could they not be? They were both GhostWalkers.

“Ginger, I hope you’re hungry,” he greeted softly. “Nonny has fixed breakfast and it looks wonderful. Go on into the kitchen and eat. I’ll be right in. Nonny will help you.”

The child looked at Pepper. He couldn’t feel the shift in energy, but they definitely communicated with one another. Ginger slipped off the bed and hurried out of the room, running on her little bare feet. He’d wanted to get a good look at her feet and made a mental note to examine them soon.

“When were the orders to terminate the children given?”

“About three weeks ago.” Pepper turned her head to look up at him. “Why?”

Wyatt sighed. He didn’t know this woman. Could she be part of a conspiracy? She looked innocent enough. Beguiling was more like it. She’d already admitted to him she was made to be a seductress for Whitney.

“Where were you and the children before you came here?”

“In France. At a laboratory in France.”

“Yet you speak excellent English. Your accent is flawless.”

“I speak several languages.” Pepper struggled into a sitting position, clenching her teeth when pain beat at her. “Why? What’s wrong?”

He felt the same pain, a blow to his system, and had to breathe deep until he could accept and absorb it as she was doing. He steeled himself to interrogate her. He had to be certain before he put his team and his family in danger.

“What’s wrong is this all seems like an enormous coincidence to me. When did you first meet the children?”