Brady stood, jabbing his finger right back at Layla. “You’re lucky we got interrupted.”
“Oh, really? ’Cause what, Brade? What? You’ve got me shivering in my boots.”
“Girl,” I said with a shake of my head, “you’re wearing sneaks.” I chuckled. “Maybe give him a break while we get this all sorted.”
“The day I give Brady a break is the day I’m freaking dead.”
Apparently hearing her own words, she frowned.
Brady swept past her, heading toward the front door on this level—a sliding barn-door style I freaking loved. Over his shoulder, he called, “Someday, you’re gonna learn to think before you speak, or you’re gonna end up swallowing your feet whole. And we both know your feet stink to high heaven.”
Before the twins could fall into even more squabbling, Fanny called out, “Knock, knock,” on the other side of the door. Brady turned toward us just to roll his eyes before sliding it open.
In yet another floral maxi skirt and blazer, Fanny stalked past him and into the kitchen-dining area we currently occupied.
“Good morning, everyone,” she trilled, then paused as if expecting a response none of us were in the mood to give her. She’d revealed a tad too much Magnum-love for our liking. She scowled briefly. “I’m here to guide you through your orientation at the Institute for the Advancement of Immortals.” She beamed as if we should be equally excited. Perhaps she even expected applause.
I stuffed another bite of bagel into my mouth and watched her.
She openly huffed, then reached into a satchel she carried across her body and pulled out five new iPhones, the latest model, still in their boxes. She lined them up on the table for us.
“Ummm, what’s this?” Layla complained even as she reached for the lavender one and slid it toward her. “I thought we were getting backourphones.”
Fanny smiled at us, but I wasn’t buying her friendly act anymore. “It was decided that these would be better for you.”
“You mean, better for Magnum,” Brady corrected.
She blinked at us, holding her smile. “Yes. You’ll be able to use these phones to communicate with each other, with me, and with personnel on campus. It’s been decided it’s better to make a clean break with any other friends or connections from Ridgemore at large.”
“‘It’s been decided,’” I parroted bitterly.
“As promised, you’ll want for nothing while you’re here.”
“Except for our freedom,” Griffin said, moving to stand behind me. “That’s not on the table, now is it?”
Fanny smoothed her fingers along her hair. “That depends on how you view ‘freedom.’”
“Oh, you know, the usual way,” Griffin bit out.
She merely plastered a tight smile across her face. “Is there anything else I can help you with today?”
As if she were customer freaking service.
“Yeah,” Brady said. “I need an RF detector ASAP.”
Fanny actually had the gall to look surprised. “Whatever for?”
“Uh, to scan for listening devices to make sure we have some privacy?”
“Oh.” Fanny chuckled, waving a hand at us. “There’s no need for that.”
“Yes, there is,” Brady insisted.
“You’ll find listening devices in every room of the house, along with each of your cars, even the unfinished ones. You’ll also be monitored in every room on campus.”
I blinked at her.
“Well, that level of honesty’s new,” Layla muttered, topping off her coffee.
