Thick as Thieves (The Greystone Family: Stolen Hearts #3)

Chapter 28

28

Kellen

Mexico City

I cannot wait to get back. I’ve felt the same every fucking time. Fair enough I’m happy to be doing the gigs, the crowds are amazing, but as soon as the meet and greets are done, I’m literally running out the door. I know it’s pissing off Gabe and Levi, but Xander is practically beating me out.

We’ve had weeks of gigs since the papers ran the stories about the twins and us. We’re hassled everywhere we go, the press is ridiculous. But as Tim points out, we’re selling out every venue and the music is so fucking amazing it’s getting as much press as our living arrangements.

My worry—Evie. Every day, she sets her shoulders and gathers herself together to go out and about. She won’t not go. She says if she’s going to stay in, she might as well go home.

Thank God for Valentina. She’s taking Evie and the twins—and Texas, which I’m still dubious about—to every family event. Every lunch, every picnic. And the Mexican mama has a lot of family and events.

Texas has inserted herself into the family routine and is hinting very heavily to Evie about coming to England to help her with the twins. I notice Evie calmly smiles, and all she ever says is, “I’m not sure Gabe can spare you.” A very uncommitted answer, but Texas is persistent.

Evie entirely loves the dinners and the events, so I’ve even asked Xan about Valentina coming back to the UK. He agrees and we’ve tentatively asked Tim to look into the requirements to get her a visa.

I need to talk to Evie about it. We’ve got about two weeks left of concerts, but Evie is planning on going home in a few days, right after Xan’s birthday, as Marshall is home just after.

We should only be a week or so behind them, but I’m not sure I’ll survive their departure. And I’m even less sure about Xan. He’s turned into a crazy stalker. Begging Jonno for apps, he’s calling and checking in almost hourly. The only time he doesn’t is if he’s on stage. When he comes off between sets, he’s onto Mick if things are okay and insists he have Tommy on call so he can check. He’s so protective of us all, he’ll not survive a week away at this rate.

We leave the latest meet and greet and try to make a dash for the car.

“Fuck me, not again. We’re staying aren’t we, Levi?” Gabe’s pissed off. He stands in the back room of the venue in only his jeans. “Send the plane back for us tomorrow night, we’re not playing again until a few days’ time. I have my entourage, Levi has his, we’re staying to party. You two boring gits run back home.” But he’s grinning at us as he finishes the sentence.

“They’re hardly boring,” contradicts Levi. “Three, every fucking night. I’d say they’re way more exciting than you, Gabe, ‘cos you’re down to one. Texas I’m sure has a girl crush on Evie. That woman pulls ‘em in. I’m a bit in love myself.” He’s laughing, but Xander has stopped dead in his tracks.

“What the fuck?” he grits out. “If she touches Evie, I’ll fucking kill her.” His eyes have turned wild, and his agitation hits maximum straight away.

Levi starts to laugh. “Cool it, Papa bear. I’m gonna cum in my jeans, all this testosterone on show from you. Help me, help me, I need you Xander.” He’s laughing and calling out as Xander tries to punch him. They’re laughing and mock fighting. Thank god for Levi lightening the mood. I’m relieved to see the levity, to be honest.

“Did Texas get off with Becky?” I ask. “Last summer. Does she like women?” Xander freezes again and looks at Levi.

“Yeah, she did, a lot, after the dining room, actually,” confirms Levi, pointedly looking at Xander.

“We need to go,” says Xan looking too fucking serious. “Why would she keep ditching Gabe for the twins?” asks Xan, clearly his mind has made a few leaps.

“Well, she can’t have kids. And she does work in a nursery in America,” says Gabe. We all turn to look at him.

“How the fuck do you know that?” We thought he wasn’t interested in anyone beyond the bedroom.

He shrugs. “She told me. They have to have a medical to come with me. It might amaze you to know, but I only fetch them out once that’s completed, and it came up on one. I know what they do for a living besides enjoying me.” He smirks at us.

Maybe Texas’s fascination isn’t with Evie, it’s with the twins.

“Well, make sure you’re back the day after tomorrow. We’ve talked Evie into a club night,” I tell him.

“Not THE club night?” Levi asks. “With all the whips and what not.”

“No, they’re working up to that,” laughs Gabe.

“Fuck off, Gabe. No, a nightclub. She doesn’t leave the house other than days out and the odd night with us at gigs, so…” Xander is pissed at Gabe’s attitude.

“Yeah, we’ll be back. Wouldn’t miss it brother.” Gabe grins at him and pulls him in for a hug and lots of back slapping.

The girls all come in and I see Tim following behind.

“You two ready? These two idiots are staying. I’ll stay with them, you head out and we’ll see you for your birthday, Xan. I’ve sorted transport for everyone.”

I smile my gratitude at him. “Thanks, Tim. Xan, let’s go.”

We head out, leaving the room filling up with all sorts of people. I shake my head, amazed at how unbothered I am. “A few months ago, I would have never walked away from all that,” I tell Xander, who’s already dialling home.

He looks up at me and smiles, a radically different smile from the practised one I see regularly with other people. He shakes his head, leans back and smiles even wider when Evie comes on FaceTime with Lochi up to the camera. I watch the man I love, loving our children and wife. What the fuck has happened to us?

“Have you thought about who you’ll get to help you when you go home, Kitten?” I pull her onto my lap. The sun’s warmed the comfy chairs through the kitchen windows throughout the day, and we nestle into them.

It’s Xander’s birthday and we’re waiting for his birthday requests. All he’s done is grin at us all day.

I can tell Evie is getting more nervous. “I should have bought more paints,” she mutters. “I’m totally freaking out here, how are you not nervous?” She’s biting at her lip.

“Because there’s not much he hasn’t already asked for and got. So really not bothered.” I shrug at her. “Relax, he only asks for things we’ll all like.”

She pulls a face at me. “And to answer your first question, I’ve asked Valentina if she wants to come to the UK with us. I’ve looked at the visa stuff, and I’ve also asked her sister. They tend to do things as a duo so…” She smiles at me. “Maria can look after Marshall.” She grins wider imagining that. “I’ve also said I’ll pay for flights once a month for up to six family members to come out and stay. I’ve shown them the place in Devon. I’m paying for her granddaughter to go to law school here and then America. I'm wholeheartedly sweetening all the deals, but I’ve said that if she decides not to come she’s not to worry, I’ll still pay for the things I’ve said.”

“You little minx. I was worried about asking you. I’ve mentioned it to Xan and we started to look into the Visa stuff, but you’re well ahead.”

She grins. “Totz. I knew the first week she would be great, so I looked into things. I think she may agree, so I’ve started the process.”

“What about Texas? Apparently she wants to come. She’s mentioned it to Gabe.”

Evie’s face goes blank and I sit up and look at her. It’s a classic Greystone tactic when she doesn’t want you to know what she actually thinks. I’ve seen James do it, and Jonno of course. I wait for the banal response I know is coming, not the truth.

“I don’t want to pull her away from Gabe and her job at home in America. I think it would be too much of a shock. We’re very boring at home, you know.” She looks down.

I throw my head back and laugh. “You are so full of shit.”

She switches her gaze, looking at me open mouthed. “We are boring. We live on a farm. Pinky terrorising Crockett and Tubbs is as exciting as it gets. Oh I suppose going racing is a highlight.” She looks happy at that thought. “The horse sales with Marshall. That is the height of anticipation. If Marsh gets his wallet out, I nearly faint with excitement.” She’s laughing now and tears are coming out of her eyes. “Don’t make me laugh, I might pee,” she huffs out. “Three babies and things are not the same you know.” She pushes at me, and I’m laughing and looking at her.

“I might need to check,” I tell her, a cheeky grin on my face.

“NO, No,” she screeches. “Valentina’s daughter gave me some of those silver ball things to help tighten things up. New, of course. She got an extra pair by mistake.” She’s grinning conspiratorially.

“Go fetch them,” I whisper in her ear, nodding my head towards our bedroom.

She shakes her head, she can’t speak for laughing. “I put them in. Thought I’d trial them in the house. She goes round the city with them in.” She’s indicating with her fingers where she’s put them.

“No wonder she looks happy all the time,” I laugh out. “What happened, did it turn you on, were you gagging for us to come home?”

She falls into my chest laughing and shaking her head. “They dropped out,” she cries.

I frown at her. “Were they faulty?”

She laughs louder. “No, my vagina is. I stood up and they dropped out. It was so disappointing. I’ve been doing pelvic floor exercises ever since, and upped my yoga.” She pouts through the tears of laughter. “I’m getting that buzzy pants set out. You can have fun with that,” she tells me. “In fact I’ll get Xan to ask for it for his birthday.”

“What are you asking me for?” He comes in checking us both out.

“Those buzzy pants. I was telling Kell about the silver ball things.”

“You knew about them?” I ask him, and he nods, smiling.

“She was crying, and I didn’t know if it was laughter or upset. Then I spotted the balls on the floor, and still wasn’t sure.” He grins. “Are you still doing your exercises?”

“Every day. Those balls are staying put next time,” she states with grim determination. “I want to walk around the city with a smile.”

We’re all laughing as Texas comes up the stairs and smiles indulgently at us. I notice her lack of make-up and hair style similar to Evie’s, much more casual than her usual immaculate hair and make-up.

“Are you coming out tonight, Texas, or are you on babysitting duties?” I ask her.

She smiles in excitement. “No, Valentina has offered tonight, so we’re all free for the birthday bash.” She sounds a bit breathless. “Xander, are you doing something special?” I think I see a fleeting hungry look in her eye as she looks at him, but it’s gone in an instant.

Evie studies her, considering her words and watching every nuance on her face. In as much as her face is totally blank and the smile is fixed in place.

“Yes, we’re going to a club. E’s not been out for a while, and I want to go dancing,” he answers, smiling at us both.

Evie’s face doesn’t change, and I see Xan look at her, frowning slightly, but he turns and carries on smiling at Texas. “Are you game Texas?”

“Oh, Sugar,” she says in a very big drawl, “I’m game for anything, you know that.”

Again Evie is sporting an insipid smile. It’s fixed in place. To an outsider it looks genuine, but I can see Xan is starting to panic. I see him twitch, he needs to touch her.

I stand and lift Evie off my knee, trying to break the tension. “Shall we get this party started? Xan? Tex? A drink?”

I don’t offer Evie one. She has to feed the boys in a few minutes so will wait, and she takes the opportunity to try to move off to find the boys. Xan pulls her towards the bedroom, and I see Texas scowl at that. What I can’t decide is if it’s because Xan has gone, or Kitten.