Page 9 of Mason

“Why don’t I cook you guys breakfast?” Jo offered.

“Uh…I don’t know about that.” Viktor looked everywhere but at her when he said it.

“I can make eggs.”

“What he’s not saying is the last time you attempted to cook, you nearly sliced your finger off and set the pan on fire.”

“That wasn’t my fault!”

“Mmmhmm.” Mason put the baby down beside his brother. “I’ll make breakfast.”

“Pop-Tarts or cereal?” Viktor asked wryly, following Jo into the kitchen.

“Whatever you prefer.”

Jo laughed and tripped over a toy lying on the floor. Both Viktor and Mason dived for her, but she ended up on the floor anyway. She rubbed her hip, which had taken the brunt of the fall. That was going to bruise.

“A walking disaster.” Mason clucked and helped her up.

“I’ve told Delia a hundred times not to leave her stuff lying around.” Viktor picked up the Barbie doll and tossed it on the counter. “Sorry about that.”

“No need. As Mason says, I’m a walking disaster just waiting to happen.”

“Tell me about this box you received while Mason puts the Pop-Tarts in the microwave.”

“He’s making a big deal out of nothing. I think it’s some kind of practical joke.”

“Humor me anyway.” Viktor shoved a hand through his hair, something she’d noticed all the brothers did. Except for Dimitri, they all looked alike with their black hair and onyx eyes. Same facial structures and everything. While Viktor and Conner were twins, Mason and Nikoli could be twins as well. They were almost identical except Nikoli was a little older than Mason. Most of the brothers were built like football players with broad shoulders and muscles meant to take a hit. Mason played football in high school too, but he was shorter than the rest of them and lankier. He had a six pack, but it was all lean muscle instead of bulk.

She told Viktor everything she could and ate the s’more flavored Pop-Tart Mason handed her. Leave it to him to make some kind of chocolate dessert for breakfast.

“Did you bring it with you?”

Mason nodded. “I left it on the front hall table.”

“How many people touched it?”

“Me and Jo…who else?”

She thought about it for a minute. “Beth and maybe Sean, our security guard.”

Viktor nodded. “I’ll take it into the office with me and run some tests on it.”

“You can do that?” Jo asked.

“Sure can. We installed our own forensics lab at the office.”

“That’s a little overkill, don’t you think?”

“Nah,” Mason said around a mouthful of food. “We’ve got clients who’d rather keep the police out of their business.”

Viktor grinned.

“What?” Mason paused in chewing to stare at his brother.

“You saidwe’vegot clients. Means you’re thinking of the office as home.”

“Nope. That’s all you and Kade. I want to do other things.”

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