Page 31 of Blackmailed

“We’re frying the turkeys this year. So, we need to get the fryers up and running.” Kalkin made his way over to where his eldest brother stood attaching a small propane tank to one of the cookers. Royce stood over another pouring oil into it. “If you could help Royce fill the others, that would be great.”

Jefferson grabbed a jug off the table then went to the fryer next to Royce. “What a morning, huh?”

Royce chuckled. “You can say that. Not every day you see your father-in-law in such a compromising situation.”

Jefferson huffed out a laugh. “Not something a parent ever wishes a child to see either.”

“Eh, it happens. We’re kind of used to it in this family.” Royce shrugged.

“What are you two clucking about?” Nico joined them, filling the container next to Jefferson.

“Getting caught in the act,” Royce stated, placing a thermometer into the cooker.

"Who got caught this time?" Nico said as he rolled his eyes.

“Jochi and I did,” Jefferson answered.

Nico stopped pouring the oil and turned his head. “No shit? Who?”

“Charisma,” Royce added. “And myself.”

Nico whistled. “Knock on wood, Hayden and I haven’t been interrupted yet.”

“Karma,” Royce muttered. “Your day will come.”

Nico shrugged. “At least we don’t put locks on our doors.”

“You’ve lost me,” Jefferson said. “What’s with all the banter about locks on doors.”

"When Hayden was younger, she had a bad habit of just walking in on people," Royce said. "Add in the situation with Mac and Holly and well... You can see why there were needs to take precautions."

Jefferson tilted his head to the side. “Hate to sound like an ass, but did anyone stop to consider how you made Hayden feel?” He’d never once considered putting a bedroom lock on his door when the girls were younger. Shit happened, but protecting his girls took priority, even if he was having sex with their mother.

Royce put his hand on Jefferson’s shoulder. “Because she likes chicks and never told Hayden, she and my dad concocted a story to keep her here so she wouldn’t leave Hayden.”

“Why would she have left Hayden?” It didn’t make sense to Jefferson. If, in the beginning, none of them wanted to take Holly from her family, why did she or Mackenzie feel the need to lie? Wouldn’t it have been better to just, put it out there and find some place for Holly to live? What was he missing?

“I think it was all part of the scam,” Royce said. “My dad will tell you he came up with the idea, but I often wonder.”

"I did, boy. It was my idea. Holly didn't ask for anything. I thought, in the beginning, I was safeguarding both of them. In the end, I was a selfish old fool who fucked up so many lives," Mackenzie mumbled. "Hayden, you, Liam, and Riley, being the biggest targets of all."

Royce shook his head. “Nope. Not going to allow you to pull the ‘blame me,’ card. Holly could have turned down your offer. She could have found an apartment and stayed on her own accord. I think she planned for all this, even though I can’t prove it.”

“He’s right, you know,” Nico said. “Hayden grew up with Holly until she moved here. I think Holly planned it from the moment she took Hayden and Jase took Bodhi. Holly is a twisted fucker like the rest of the Geithner clan.”

Jefferson winced. Adrian was nothing like Holly. If anything, he was a mini-Kalkin. Ruthless. Efficient, if not still a bit wet behind the ears. He was cold and calculating and unlike the others, didn’t want his brother or sister to find out about him. He didn’t want to taint the Raferty family. He wanted to protect them from his parents and PBH.

"It's fucked up," Jefferson agreed. "Kids need boundaries. It had to be hard for Hayden who'd had her wolf nature repressed for so long. She couldn't be free until she came here and, some part of her must still worry why she’s here. What the point was of coming here. If you ask me, Hayden is the most damaged of this family and perhaps, instead of worrying about her walking into private moments, you should have been concerned about a fragile wolf, who didn't even know she was one until she arrived in Window Rock."

Mackenzie and Royce frowned while Nico smirked, nodding at everything Jefferson had said.

“When you put it that way,” Royce murmured. “You’re right. We were selfish. I think we all saw a hyper girl who was trying to find her place in the family, and we all slammed the door in her face.”

“We’re working on it,” Nico said. “Hayden is talking to Brie and Jasmine a few times a month. This last year has been a shock to all of our systems, especially after what Worthington told her.”

Jefferson had read it in the statements given after the initial investigation. They were going to be part of the censure and expulsion hearing as well. “It doesn’t make it any easier on her to relive some of the vilest times in her life. Nor does it help realizing Holly had been in control of all of those situations as well.”

“When did you become Hayden’s biggest cheerleader?” Nico stated.

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