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Alien in the House

Alien in the House

Titel: Alien in the House Kostenlos Bücher Online Lesen
Autoren: Gini Koch
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included, shook their heads vigorously. Jeff, Chuckie, and Christopher, who were all standing behind the princesses, each made his own version of the Stop/Cut/Shut Up/Kill Gesture.
    Rahmi and Rhee looked crushed. “We didn’t mean to offend,” Rhee said in a whisper.
    “Girls, the Great Tito did
not
mean it that way,” I said quickly. “We try not to put one warrior above the others here, and the Great Tito is very modest and humble. He’s not offended by your total and complete hero worship that has clearly been encouraged by your mother. He actually
is
modest, unlike me, so he’s a little embarrassed and is thinking we’ve asked you to tell him he’s great as a way of friendly, teasing camaraderie.”
    The princesses didn’t look convinced, but Tito again proved that his main go-to move was being smart, capable, and fast in a danger situation. He turned back to the princesses and gave them a beaming smile. “Really? You’d do me the honor of letting me sit with not one but two of the finest warriors in the Alpha Centauri system?”
    The girls perked up. “You can recognize that we’re great warriors?” Rahmi asked timidly.
    “Absolutely. I met your mother, and there’s no way her daughters would be anything less than stellar. That she sent you here, alone, just proves that you’re the best of the best.” Tito walked to the dining table, stood in front of one chair, and pulled out the two on either side of it. “If you’d allow me the honor.”
    The princesses rushed over and allowed Tito to help them into their chairs, Rahmi first and then Rhee, and push them in. The collective tension in the air ratcheted down to normal. Made a mental note to hurt White later, but realized that I’d never follow through on it. In the retelling, this was going to be hilarious.
    As the princesses happily talked fighting with the Great Tito, the rest of us sat down and ate. The meal itself was uneventful, with the kids prattling about what they’d done on their extended sleepover, the couples getting to actually relax together, and everyone else talking about Jeff’s appointment.
    Oliver had his Poof, Button, along for the ride, but he was concerned about Bellie, who was alone in his apartment. Reader sent a Field team to pick her up. Sadly, they were remarkably fast and efficient. Bellie was happily settled on the perch Jeff had refused to get rid of within fifteen minutes. Jeff, Oliver, and Vance were making much over her and giving her tons of bird treats less than a minute later.
    “Bellie loves Mister! Bellie loves Jeff! Bellie loves Vance!”
    “Nice of you to share, Bellie.”
    “I like the bird,” Vance said. “She appears to have good taste. And she learned my name so quickly, too, so she’s clearly smart.”
    Jeff and Oliver both started sharing the wonder that was Bellie with Vance, presumably so that he’d know all the details when they initiated him into the Bellie the Parrot Fan Club.
    “I don’t get why Jeff loves that bird so much,” Christopher muttered. “At least the Peregrines do some actual work.”
    “Dude, it’s like you read my mind.”



CHAPTER 73
    D INNER OVER, everyone went to bed, either in their own rooms or assigned guest rooms, or, in Tito’s case, back to the infirmary. Jeff tried to get Bellie to stay with us, but I put the ambassadorial foot down and she and her perch went along with Oliver to his room over at the Zoo.
    We got Dad settled into his room in our apartment and then got Jamie ready for bed. “What’s this?” Jeff asked as he picked up the stuffed eagle.
    “I found it in Santiago’s office. I want to keep it. To have something to remember him by.”
    Jeff kissed my forehead. “Fine with me, baby. Again, his death isn’t your fault.”
    “No, but finding out who really caused him to be killed is my responsibility. And I don’t feel any closer to doing that than we were before.”
    “We’ll figure it out,” Jeff said confidently. “But for now, let’s get our little Jamie-Kat into bed.”
    After bath time, Jeff and I still sang songs to Jamie. Decided to work the eagle into the act, so I slid it onto my hand mid-song. My fingernails brushed against something in the head. It didn’t feel like a bug or anything dangerous, so I waited until the song was over to see what was in there.
    Retrieved a piece of paper that had been folded many times over. Figured it was a note from one of the kids from Reyes’ old school. I’d look at it

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