Jai cocked his head. “You don’t have a brother.”
Demetrius cleared his throat. “Half-brother. He says he’s currently in Toronto but heading to Mission City and wants to meet me.”
“It’s a scam.” Arnav waved it off—clearly dismissing it.
“He has a picture of my father. And—” Demetrius squinted. “—he says this is him.”
Arnav snatched the phone. “Things like this can be faked. Ask him to email the original. You have a public email, right? One that doesn’t have anything sensitive?”
“At your suggestion, yes.” Demetrius grinned. “Like I didn’t have some idea about security.”
“Lawyers make paranoid friends. Nothing’s safe.”
Foster ruffled his hair. “You make me feel safe, Daddy.”
Jai continued to rest his arm on Demetrius’s shoulder. “Do you want to go home? To see the kids?”
Their children were definitely a grounding force in their lives.
“He knows I live in Mission City.”
“He also says he’s in Toronto.”
“And coming here.” Demetrius rubbed his forehead. “I don’t know what he wants.”
“Sounds like he’s looking for some kind of relationship.” I cuddled closer to Cody—trying to figure out what I’d do if I was facing this predicament.
The phone buzzed again.
Arnav read—apparently unconcerned about Demetrius’s privacy.
But the older man appeared relieved to give this mess to someone else to deal with. He was a great Daddy—and really had his shit together—but sometimes he liked to give up a bit of that control. Which was why Jai was the perfect husband for him.
“He says he’s willing to do a DNA test. Through a private lab. No public databases.” Arnav glanced at Demetrius. “I suppose if he sent you his results, and you didn’t share yours, that might mitigate some of the risk. It’ll take a computer a fraction of a second to say if you’re related.”
“That’s kind of amazing.” I grasped Cody’s hand. “I remember the days before DNA.”
“I do, too.” Foster grinned. “Us old-timers have to stick together.”
“Speak for yourself.” I grinned. “You’re only as old as you feel.”
Foster pointed to the dungeon floor.
Evan sat near the puppy pile with a rope in his teeth and a shit-eating grin on his face.
Jai rubbed his hand up and down Demetrius’s arm. “We can go.”
He shook his head. “Play one more time with your friends. I’ll send a text to the kids just to check in.”
“You’re going to get a couple of eye-roll emojis.” Arnav passed the phone back to him. Then he pivoted to Foster. “And while you’re playing, I’ll check in with Kennedy.”
Foster’s dark-brown eyes flashed gratitude. “Thanks.”
This was only the second time they’d joined us. Last time had been fine. Chances were tonight would be just as good.
Kennedy and Rainbow were great with dogs, and Queenie, the family’s rescue dog, adored the kids.
“Rashma said she’ll be in town next month and wants a turn at babysitting.” Forter pressed his hand to Arnav’s sternum. “Your sister is great at being an aunt.”
