Love vs. Payne (26 page)

"I've never seen Maddox happier." Beatrix said to her husband.

"My boy the genius, created a system to get his work down in half the time, just so he could go home and watch his wife feed his son." Xavier grinned and Beatrix chuckled watching them walk to the house. "We're going to have a dozen grandchildren by the time they’re done." he grinned

"I hope." Beatrix's smile widened and she turned to look at her granddaughter, "Oh look, she opened her dollhouse.” she said watching Love’s face brighten up as she pulled the foil wrapping paper off the lavish doll house.

"You spoil them." Xavier smiled.

"Me? You should talk, they both own their own homes. You even bought a custom-made Mercedes for Dare and he's not even one years old yet." she laughed and they both turned to see Dexter storming towards them.

"If you don't do something about her I will!" Dexter interrupted.

"What's wrong?" Beatrix asked, although she already knew.

"What's wrong? She's a spoiled little brat!” Dexter snapped.

"Dexter, calm down and tell me what happened-"

"What do you think happened, what
always
happens!" he barked, so riled up he was not hearing anything his mother was saying, "She's not too old to get her ass beat!"

"Dexter!" Beatrix gasped.

"Tell her to leave me alone." he snapped in frustration, and then stormed off.

"She brings out the worst in him." Xavier said, both he and Beatrix still surprised by the recent displays of anger.

Tempest stood by the merry go round, holding Love, looking as sweet and as innocent as apple pie.

Razor blades and arsenic apple pie was more like it, Dexter thought as he looked at her. She was an annoying little girl with a nasty disposition, who pulled pranks so devious that she needed mechanically engineered wings to avoid the repercussions.

Tempest looked at her target, her honey colored eyes on fire as a sly smile spread across her face...

THE END