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Talyn settled in his seat and kicked his feet onto the control panel. “What have you been researching?”
“Information about your new mate.”
Talyn jerked upright. “I didn’t ask you to do that. It’s rude to snoop.”
“I’m not snooping. I’m interested in Sinead. If your relationship works, she’ll spend a lot of time aboard me. I needed to make sure that’s acceptable.”
“If Sinead finds out, she might insist you’re disassembled. As my mate, she has the right to ask that.”
“If my findings are correct, Sinead will never do that.”
Talyn smiled and shook his head. “What if your research shows she isn’t an acceptable mate for me? Will you eject her out of the waste chute when my back’s turned?”
“That’s one option.”
“I forbid you from doing that. That’s an order.” Talyn didn’t believe Booby would do anything that mean, but when she was in a bad mood, she had been known to switch off the hot water as he took a shower.
“Order noted,” Booby said.
The glass in front of Talyn blackened, turning into a viewing screen. Booby showed five images of men of varying ages and appearance. They were all human.
“Who are these guys?” Talyn leaned forward. “Don’t tell me Sinead dated them. Some look old enough to be her father.”
“You’re correct. They have all been her stepfather at one point in time.”
Talyn blew out a huff of air. “No wonder Sinead doesn’t believe in a single mate for life if her mom got hitched to all these guys.”
“It appears her mom, Catherine, has enjoyed the company of a number of men. If my records are up-to-date, and they always are, her latest husband has just filed for divorce.”
“For what reason?”
“Unreasonable behavior. I’ve also found information on recent loans and unpaid debts Catherine has built up in the last few months since they’ve been married. She put both their names on the debts, so her husband is jointly responsible for repaying them.”
“This guy has grown bored with her spending habits and is getting rid of her?”
“It also appears she’s been unfaithful to him.”
Talyn’s mouth twisted to the side. “With a mom like this, it’s no surprise Sinead’s dubious about long-term relationships. What about her biological father?”
A death certificate appeared on the screen. “He died when Sinead was young. Since then, she’s had a new stepfather approximately every two years.”
“What’s so wrong with these guys that they don’t go the distance?”
“I believe they serve their purpose for Sinead’s mother,” Booby said. “Catherine likes men with status and wealth. She never marries anyone who has less than twenty-five million in the bank. When she leaves them, they always have significantly less.”
Talyn did not like the sound of Sinead’s mom one bit. “Catherine marries these guys, steals from them, and leaves?”
“Things operate differently if you’re human and marry another human. It’s not stealing. She stays with them for the minimum required time and completes her duties as a wife. Then leaves them and requests fifty percent of their assets.”
“She cons them? She makes them believe she’s in love and takes what she’s entitled to.”
“That’s a distinct possibility.”
Talyn shook his head. “No wonder Sinead’s always so full of panic. She’s lived a life of uncertainty and change. She’s had to adapt to new men coming in and out of her life. Her mom hasn’t looked after her properly.”
“There’s no evidence of ill-treatment. I found no police reports of abuse or neglect.”
“It’s not great treatment to use guys to get what you want and show your daughter that it’s an acceptable thing to do,” Talyn said.
