Page 81 of In the Line of Ire

"Thanks,Mom!" I yelled.

"Garrettis going to be pissed that he missed this," said Daniel. His wife,Alice, held up a green pair and raised her eyebrows.

Iglanced over at Serena. She looked furious and her package seemedto have disappeared already.

"Doesthis happen at every meal?" asked Sadiq as he looked around inabject wonder.

"I’m in'make your own lingerie' class but I think there's a men’s boxersclass coming up. Or maybe that's actually about boxing. I'm notsure." Mom shrugged. "If it's men’s underwear, shall I make you alla pair? I can match your wives’ panties. Or I could trim each pairin a different color."

Sadiqturned to Maddox. "Can we come back for that?" he asked.

"Absolutely, dear," said Mom as she patted his arm. "Anyfriend of Lexi's is a friend of ours."

"We'rebest friends," said Sadiq. "Lexi and I are very close."

"No,"said Serena, her face the shade of a tomato. "No! Absolutely not!Antonio is not wearing matching underwear to Solomon and mybrothers and the FBI! Mom, it's just wrong!"

"What'swrong? Don't you like that shade of yellow?" asked Mom, apparentlystumped as to what Serena's problem could possibly be.

Serenaglared at her. "I haven't even opened it!"

"Lexi,Lily and Alice are pleased with theirs. Aren't you, girls?" Momlooked at us.

"I haveno words," I said.

"They'reterrific," said Lily. "If I'd known you could make these, I wouldhave taken the class with you."

"Metoo," said Alice. "It sounds like lots of fun."

"Andvery sexy," said Mom.

Dadbarked a cough and turned away. "I think I'm going to take my cakeback to the game," he said as he grabbed his plate and almost ranfrom the room.

"Greatcake," said Maddox as he scooped the last bite into his mouth."Very memorable."

The meninsisted on clearing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen for mymother, who insisted on staying with them, to talk and superviseand beam. While Lily changed Poppy's clothes into a night onesie,Serena, Alice, and I herded the kids into the living room. Theycrowded on the floor around Patrick, all staring at something inhis hands.

"Whathave you got there?" asked Lily. "I saw you giggling at somethingduring dinner."

"It'snothing," said Patrick, without looking up.

"Patrickalways has the funniest stuff," said Sam.

"Whatkind of funny stuff?" asked Dad. "Funny, funny stuff? Or you know,funny stuff?"

"Funnystuff, Grandpa!" said Sam.

I leanedin while they were distracted and grabbed the phone. Playing on thescreen was the awful video of Lily and me outside her bar. Iwondered if they recognized me and as I glanced at them, judgingfrom their bashful expressions, they did.

"How didyou find this?" I asked as calmly as I could.

"PurpleMonster," said Sam. "Patrick has the best videos."

"Wait..." I paused the video, looking at the screen. Thiswasn't just another viewer's account, this was the host account."You're Purple Monster?"

"What'sgoing on?" asked Dad. "What's a purple monster?"

"It'sPatrick's online handle, isn't it, Patrick?" I pressed, staring atmy eldest nephew.

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