𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇

XXXVII

— Rori —

It takes Xavi a moment to register Teddy's words, and then another moment to process that said brother is standing before him.

As his eyes meet Eden's for the first time, i see for myself just how quickly he assesses the situation and reaches a conclusion given that he hardly inspects the man's appearance.

I suppose by now, having been a member of our family for twenty five years, unexpected first meetings with other members of said family are simply an inconvenience.

That's not to say that this is not the first time this has happened to my guardian. Simply that it makes sense.

"No," he says, as if reprimanding all of us who stand in the foyer. "This is not happening."

"Xavi, you left me to handle things," Wyatt begins, attuned to his brother's animosity.

"I just passed Alfonso and Christian as i was pulling into the driveway, and now you mean to tell me you've also allowed a stranger into our home between the time i left the house this morning and now? How on earth is that handling things?"

I glance up at my twenty-three year old brother, as if to telepathically say 'Who's going to tell him about the broken dishware?' He, of course, pays me no mind.

"They came here unannounced, okay? Eden, included. He said Lorenzo sent him, something about a miscommunication—"

"Breakfast," Eden says with a nod as he scratches his nose, as if to remind Wyatt of what led him here, not at all affected by Xavi's taking offence with his presence.

"—breakfast," Wyatt repeats. "He was told to join us for breakfast," he informs Xavi.

Our brother practically laughs at this.

"What, here?" Xavi asks, baffled. "This Lorenzo Antonelli sent you to meet us here? In our home?"

"I believe we reached that conclusion," Eden comments with a taut, barely present smile, his tone slightly condescending as he remains unaffected by Xavi's reaction.

"And how exactly did he acquire our address to begin with?" Xavi asks him.

"I imagine he knew your address to begin with," Eden remarks.

Teddy huffs in snide amusement, following with a comment which is akin to what the rest of us are already thinking.

"Well," he pauses, "there's another thing brother dearest chose not to discuss with us."

"Speaking of which, where are Zephaniah and Yakov?" Wyatt asks he and Xavi. "I called a family meeting, did i not?"

"Family meeting," Xavi scoffs. "Had i known you meant literally—"

"We're here," the voice of Yakov calls out in, as always, a timely manner. "What's going on?"

Our heads turn at this announcement.

Zephaniah has not quite shut the door behind him as Yakov expectantly glances around the foyer, very quickly spotting the unfamiliar man in the room, whose presence he acknowledges by uttering a simple "Ah."

"What is it?" Zephaniah asks, facing his brother with furrowed brows. Following Yakov's line of vision, he soon sees for himself what 'it' is. "Ah," he mimics, his tone a touch more wintry.