Page 105 of Thick as Thieves
“Really? Wow, bonus,” I laugh. “Well, anytime. I’m happy to be used and abused,” I tell her, helping her on with her blouse. “I noticed the boobs, but thought it was due to the twins,” I tell her. “And it’s not, it’s another little one. Oh my God, Marcus is gonna freak.” I can hardly keep myself on the ground. My voice is getting higher and higher.
“Do you think he’ll be okay? I know how worried he is,” she says, her voice wobbling a bit with nerves. “Are we telling him tonight? After his mothers, not before.” She rolls her eyes at me. “I’m not sharing my happy news with Rowena just yet.”
“My dad is going to go wild,” I tell her, imagining what Dad will say. “He will be so fucking happy, he’ll be moving us in with him.” My smile keeps getting wider and wider, my face is aching with it. And I can’t stop touching her.
“Marcus will be fine, I hope. I think it was the guilt of the miscarriages, he thought it was his fault. I hope he’ll be okay.” That thought wipes the smile from my face. “I better speak to the others out there. Let’s go get a cuppa, then we can discuss tactics with Kell.”
I pull her into me and look into the eyes I have loved from being a boy. Eyes that have loved me. “I love you seems too small a thing to say today, especially now in this moment. My whole life I’ve loved you. This gift you have given me, it’s immeasurable, Kitten. No words for it.” I kiss her, caress her, and we stand for an age, making out in this room.
Jonno re-opens the door and peeks in. “Deed’s already done, Xander. We need tea, mate, so put them down.” He grins at us. “Besides”—he walks back through the door—“I need to hug my sister again. You haven’t bumped me off partner duties, have you?” he asks her, pushing at me. “I go with her.” He points to himself. “But I might let you come along if you behave,” he tells me. He’s crazy.
“Jonno you can come, but don’t forget I delivered my sons, your nephews. So I feel like I’m more qualified.” We start to argue back and forth about who is the most experienced and Tommy comes over and ushers Evie away. The man is so protective of her, and in that moment, I know she could not be in better hands. My baby, my world, is in very good hands.
51
Xander
London - Russell House.
I prisedmyself off Evie and left her in the capable hands of Jonno. They were going for food with Tommy in tow. I’m desperate to see Kell to tell him the news, but I need to wait. And I’m not sure I’ll manage to contain myself. I feel like everything is about to burst.
“You telling him before or after?” asks Jase, slapping me on the back. He’s bursting with excitement himself.
“After. He needs his wits about him to deal with his mother,” I say, grimacing at the reminder of what’s about to happen. She’s such a pain. I think about the recent confrontations, how Rowena treated Evie and my boys. My blood starts to simmer. Evie was pregnant when they went for her, fucking idiots. So focused on themselves and how they feel, not remotely interested in what Evie was feeling.
Marcus said his mother has been calling non-stop. Demanding he go and see her. Hinting she has important news. He’s already there and as impatient as ever.
Marcus
where R U? hurry the fuck up
Me
On my way, baby
I add an emoji for good measure
Marcus
fuck off. Everyone’s starving
I stride into the house with Jase at my side. Casey, the butler who has met me loads of times, bows at me. Jase smirks at me as Casey announces us into the small library, running ahead to get my full title in.
“Viscount Sterling,” says Tim, bowing at me as I come to a halt.
“Fuck off, Tim.” I grin as I wallop him on the back.
Marcus faces the assembly, zeroing in on Rowena. “Right. We’re all here, Mother, so let’s eat. Get that gong rang. And you better have places set for everyone. We’re all eating together, none of this upstairs downstairs shit.” He rolls his eyes, dragging me into a bear hug.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard him speak to her like that before. I push back from him and look him over. He blows out a breath as he scrubs his hands over his face and neck, but tries to smile at me. He seems stressed to death, clearly LA has taken its toll.
I bro hug Levi and Gabe. “All alright, Xan? You look weird,” comments Levi.
Marcus spins around again, studying me. “Let’s eat, for god’s sake, he's probably starving.” He’s pointedly loud near his mother, but turns towards me, saying quietly, “She’s up a height. Said we’ve had ‘criminal damage’ to the house. That’ll be what Evie did, I bet you.” He rolls his eyes towards his mother.
I turn away and look out the window before I accidentally blurt out the news. Jase keeps his eyes on me, worry lines appearing on his face. Marcus is intently studying me. He starts to run his hands through his hair, grabbing the back of his neck—his stress tells on display as his levels start to ramp up, again.
“What’s up, Xan? I thought you said everything was great. It hasn’t changed that fast has it? I know Evie is a maniac at times, but even for her that would be going some.” He’s trying to gauge my look.
