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

Chapter 33

33

Kellen

I stand for what seems like an age, watching the retreating back of the man who loves and protects my wife and kids with his life. I need to speak to Xander. She didn’t look right. Even for illness, she didn’t look right.

The toilet door swings open and one of Valentina’s relatives stands there. Her T-shirt has the club logo on it. I remember her from the debacle in the park, and she’s helped Valentina at the house a few times.

“Hi Roza. Were you with Evie in the toilets? Was she sick?”

“Yes, a few times. I put her in an out of use toilet. But it works really. She needed a bit of peace and quiet. If you’re ill, you need it.” She nods and smiles at me. “Valentina will sort her out. She’s had too many shocks tonight.” The woman’s face is full of concern as she speaks.

“Shocks? Do you mean shots.”

“Oh yes, shots, yes shots.” She edges away from me, suddenly seeming very keen to get away. “I need to go. I am the attendant. I look after everyone.”

I grin at her. I remember her telling funny stories in the kitchen about the club she worked at. “I’ll bet you hear some tales in there.” I smirk.

“You have no idea, the things people say and tell you. Some are very unwelcome.” She gives me a weird look and scuttles away and back into the toilets.

I stand and look at the door. Not quite sure what to make of it all. Best go break the news to Xander. It’s just he and I, unless he wants to leave straight away. I’m happy either way. I’ll do whatever he wants. It's his birthday.

When I walk into the main club area, I don’t see any of my party. They’ve all disappeared. I spot Mick sitting at his table in the VIP area and as I make my way over, I’m accosted by one of the festival promoters here in Mexico City. I’ve met him before and he introduces me to his colleagues and a new promoter who’s looking for up and coming bands. My brain instantly springs to my sons and I get embroiled in discussions to get B4d Intel as the headliners.

After what feels like an hour, I give Mick our signal to come rescue me. This discussion needs to be in a different place, and have more of our team involved. I make my excuses, explaining about the birthday party I’m supposed to be with, and move with Mick towards the other club door.

“Where the fuck is everyone?”

“In the other club. Xan went through to sort out your room. I’m amazed he’s not turned back up yet. He texted me the room number.” We push through the club door and into plush carpets and top end décor. Clearly most of the money is being spent here. “Room five. First floor. Where’s Evie?”

I stop and look at him. “Tommy said he’d text you when they got home. Hasn’t he? She’s ill.”

I hesitate to move forward. They should have got home by now. The house is not that far away, and even by Mexico City traffic, they should be back.

“Text him, Mick. I’ll go speak to Xander. Come into the room with his response.”

I stride off in search of Xan, leaving Mick to text or call Tommy. My brain is whirring. I know I’m not the most intuitive guy at times, but when it comes to my wife, I’m hard wired. I have a weird feeling in my gut.

I walk into a room painted out in dark blues. It’s a gorgeous room, lots of play items hanging strategically on one wall. All set and waiting to be used for a fabulous night of sex, fucking, making love, or whatever floats your boat. And I know there are many boats.

The man standing shirtless with a whip in his hand makes my stomach drop. And my cock throb and twitch in my trousers. Dark hair, flopping onto his tanned face. Rugged chin, and just a few days old stubble. Fucking unbelievable that he’s here for me and her. The clearest, intensely blue eyes that are like a bright summer day in Scotland. A smirk over his full lips. His body a mass of graceful lines and muscle. Abs that ripple like waves on a Loch. Skin soft as silk. He makes my mouth water and my insides quake.

The electricity that is pouring out of him is for Evie and myself alone. White heat that has only intensified since Evie agreed to love us both. It simmers under the surface, and I feel it daily like a living flame. Before us, he was cold and calculated. No fire, only ice. Bored and disinterested. Now I know I couldn’t contain him. He’s overwhelming.

His scent hits me, wood, oud, and Xander. Fuck I wish Evie was here to see and feel this. My brain screeches to a halt, as I need to deliver the bad news.

“Where’s Kitten?” He’s looking behind me as if he expects the door to open. “Did you tell her to come get my requests?” He smirks, his eyes full of devilish promise, and takes a step towards me, watching my face intently. “Where is she? Kell?” His face has changed from sexy as fuck to what the fuck.

“She’s ill and gone.”

His face drops, the gasp that escapes him emphasises his shock and disappointment.

“No fucking way. What’s wrong with her? Do we need to leave? Did you see her?”

I nod at his rapid fire questions. “I saw her, she was being carried by Tommy. She?—”

“Fucking carried?” His voice is rising by the word. “What the hell is wrong with her? Let’s go.” He starts to scour the room for his top.

“No, it wasn’t serious, she’d vomited from too much tequila. She said for me to stay with you. To look after you. That people would be disappointed if we left, as it’s your birthday treat.” I furrow my brow at that comment. Finally starting to process her words. Fuck, I don’t speak fluent Greystone.

“People? Who the hell are people? Like Gabe and Levi. Why would they be bothered? And she only had one drink. I watched her.”

My insides start to simmer with worry. A knock on the door breaks my spiralling thought process. “It’ll be Mick. I told him to text Tommy for an update.”

I stride over to the door, flicking the lock open, yanking the door nearly off its hinges.

“Still got your clothes on? What the fuck is wrong with you?” Gabe’s grinning face greets me. He pushes into the room, followed by Levi and all the girls. Xan’s still looking for his shirt, and I can see all the women blatantly checking his body out. Clara even whistles, she’s that obvious, moving towards him as if he’s using the power of hypnosis.

“What are you doing here?” I’m still holding the door open and bob my head out into the corridor to look for Mick. No sign of him. I stand with the door in my hands, gesturing for them to go back out through it. “Get lost. Fuck off, all of you. We’re busy.”

“Where’s Evie?” Gabe is walking around the room. Touching all the benches. Running his hands down the sheets. Texas is hot on his heels, but veers off towards the bathroom, clearly searching for Kitten.

“Gone. She’s ill.” I watch as Texas’s shoulders slump in disappointment. What the fuck is going on here? “Get lost, we’re leaving,” I repeat.

Levi has already started to kiss Tanya. Manoeuvring her around towards the large cross in the corner.

“Why? I’m happy to watch.” Gabe smirks at me then turns to watch Levi. “Looks like you're out of luck, Texas.” He makes a grab for the tall brunette who looks like she lost her life savings on a horse race. “You’ll have to settle for me. I know I might not match up to Evie, but I’ll give it a go for you.” He’s grinning like a madman.

But I see Xander standing stock still. His body all taut and stiff.

“Fuck off, Gabe, Levi. Those days are done. You know this. We've told you we’re exclusive with Evie. We’re fucking married. If you want all this, you need to get your own room. Or at least wait til we leave.” I’m fed up with people not listening to anything we say. Always working on their own agenda.

“Where was Evie ill?” Xander’s not registering anything that’s going on in the room. He’s wrestled into his shirt, shoving his feet into his boots, seeming to be focused on what Gabe had said.

“Toilets,” I respond, watching everyone watch Xander. They’re like a plague of locusts eyeing up a field of wheat. Waiting for the moment that he changes his mind and joins in. They must be unmitigatedly stupid if they think that is ever happening again. He’s all in with Evie and I. Nobody will come between us again.

“She wasn’t in there earlier,” Candy states, perplexed. “We were all there. The toilet was empty and the other one was out of order.”

My body locks into place. She was in that toilet. She was in the out of order one. What did she hear? ‘Shocks’ Roza said ‘Shocks’ not shots. She was right the first time. Fuck.

“Did any of you discuss Evie whilst you were in there?”

They all look guiltily at Texas. Xander has latched onto the conversation and the expression on my face.

“What the fuck have you said?” Xan growls.

Not one of them speaks. Gabe blows out a breath and looks up at the ceiling for divine help.

“They were discussing tonight, how they wanted to get with you all.” He points to us both. Xander has moved to stand next to me by the door. “They also talked about getting with Evie if you tied her up.” He points at Texas, throwing his hands in the air in helplessness.

All the girls look at Candy, who clearly has verbatim replayed that conversation to Gabe.

“Fucking Jesus Christ. What else?” Xander roars at them all. “You might as well come clean now. She’s fucking left.” His agitation is making him twitch. His fists balling together.

“We talked about our night in LA, with you tying us up and using a hairbrush.”

Xander pales at Tanya’s words. His disgust is evident at both her and himself.

“We need to leave. Now. Find Mick, Marcus. Now.”

Xander is pushing at me to move. I’m replaying the conversation. How she looked. We are in big trouble here.

We run into Mick who is coming the other way. “Have you got Tommy?” Xan asks, completely out of breath, the panic taking it all.

“No, not answering the phone. But I’ve checked the apps on the phones. They’re all still at the house.” His words soothe me as we run towards the back doors of the club.

I must look like death, as Xander takes my hand the instant we’re in the car. “She’s still here. We can sort this out. She must know we never wanted that with them, any of them,” he states, “She must. We’ve told her enough. Showed her how much we love her. Surely she’ll know that it wasn’t true.” His voice has a pleading edge to it, and I’m not sure who he’s addressing that statement towards.

“Xan, she was odd, she looked broken. Yes, I couldn’t put my finger on it before, but she looked broken. No fight. Cuddled into Tommy for safety. She told me to look after you…” My voice trails off as I look at him. Why would she do that? I thought she meant in the room tonight for his birthday. Not outside it. Now I think she might have been telling me something else. Fuck that Greystone speak. “Said people were waiting for us to enjoy your birthday. Fuck! She heard every lying word they said. No wonder she was sick.”

“Mick, put your foot down. Marcus, have you got the find my phone app? Check it again.” Xander is bouncing on the seat, leant forwards practically trying to drive the car.

I pull out my phone. “Yep, still there.” I blow out a relieved breath I didn’t even know I was holding.

“Those fucking women. And Gabe is seriously out of order. He’s been told for months we’re not getting involved with him or anyone.” My face is a mask of annoyance. He just doesn’t listen.

“He’s desperate. He loves the idea of us all. I think he’s jealous to fucking death.” Xan’s voice is low and angry. “He wants someone to love him as Evie loves us. I’ve seen him watching her with you, and me. It’s obvious. He’s so fucking obvious, and desperate.”

We pull up to the house. It’s in darkness. My alarm bells start to ring. Why are there no lights on? Why are the kitchen and living areas in darkness?

Xander takes the steps two at a time and pushes on the big front door. It’s open, again not something that should happen.

“Hang on, Xander, let me go first.” Mick is clearly spooked by the dark of the house, and the open door. The silence.

We all walk slowly up the stairs. Mick in front, Xander following on behind. Going into the kitchen area, it all looks clean and tidy. Nothing out of place. We head into the living areas, again all as it should be. But it looks pristine and clean. Like nobody lives here. I notice Xan has disappeared from my side as I head towards our bedroom.

The scream that rips the night to shreds makes my heart stop and the blood run cold in my veins. It's as if someone has taken a torch to his soul.

Mick and I rush towards the painful sound. He’s in the babies’ bedroom. No, no, no. I flick the light switch which illuminates a scene of total carnage. Xander on his knees between the two cribs. Tears streaming down his face. The cribs are empty. The room stripped bare.

“She’s gone,” he keens, grief ripping across his face.

And I know the same look is etched on mine as I drop to my knees in front of him. Roaring in pain.