Bloodlines by Alex Kidwell Read Free Book Online Page A

table. “Thank you, once again, for all this. I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in quite some time.”
    As much as Jed gave the guy a hard time, he had to kind of feel for Victor. Not a lot , but he knew what it was like to think “homemade” meant the instant noodles you’d heated up using the coffeepot because your microwave had something stuck to the inside that smelled like death. Or maybe that was just him. In any case, Jed knew he was damn lucky to have Redford, and Victor…. Well, even with David, he hadn’t been lucky like that. Most people weren’t.
    “You’re always welcome here,” Randall ventured, though his head was bowed over the bowls as he ladled up the stew. “I mean, we take turns cooking, and there’s usually something edible around.” His gaze cut over to Victor quickly, before he determinedly looked away again. “After all, I owe you quite a bit more than a simple dinner.”
    “Oh no, you don’t owe me anything,” Victor replied, looking startled but pleased at the offer of further dinners. “You have Jed to thank for your rescue in Cairo and Redford for helping here. I’m merely tagging along, though I do hope to be helpful.”
    “Jed and Redford are more than happy to accept dinner in trade for lifesaving.” Jed waved Randall off. “In fact, if you get me another beer, I’ll say we’re even.” He’d rather have a simple meal than a bunch of thanks he didn’t know what to do with, any day.
    They took their seats. Jed held out Redford’s for him and claimed the chair next to him. Edwin easily took the bowl from Anthony, almost seeming as though the gesture meant nothing. He and Randall got Anthony’s food ready, filled up his glass, all without missing a beat or appearing like they were even deliberately helping him. It was a choreographed dance between people who didn’t want to acknowledge why they were doing what they did.
    Anthony took a few moments to encourage everybody to put more on their plates than what was really necessary, making sure they had enough to drink, fussing over bread. Jed noticed that he subtly switched out his bread plate for Edwin’s, giving the larger slice to his brother. He did much the same thing with his bowl of stew and Victor’s, like it was ingrained in him to make sure everyone else had enough before he let himself relax into his own place.
    “Well, before we get started,” Victor said, lifting his glass, “may I propose a toast? To working together, and to hopefully finding a solution.” His gaze went to Randall, a reassuring smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “With Jed and Redford on your side, I’ve no doubt they’ll find a way.”
    Jed laid his hand over his heart as he raised his beer. “Was that a vote of confidence? Professor, I’m touched.” He mimed wiping away tears, sniffing loudly. “God, and I didn’t get you anything. Red, remind me to stop at the pocket protector store on the way home. Victor deserves something pretty.”
    Victor looked thoroughly unamused. “As an addendum,” he continued, as if unaware that Jed had spoken, “I apologize for any explosion, property destruction, or loss of limbs. All three regularly happen in Jed’s vicinity.”
    At that, Jed laughed genuinely, leaning over the table to clink his bottle against Victor’s glass. “Now that I’ll drink to,” he said, giving the man a grin. “And to the professor. If we play our cards right, he might just use that big brain of his for good instead of putting me to sleep.”
    “Cheers,” Randall said with a sideways little smile, raising his glass. Everyone else followed suit, and they settled down to eat.
    The rabbit stew was fucking fantastic. Jed had eaten some weird shit in his life—once, while embedded in Cambodia, he’d eaten roaches the size of his fist off of where they were crawling all over him after his rations ran out—but this was less well, it’s eating this or my own foot and more just plain delicious.