Page 81 of Thick as Thieves
“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.
34
Evie
I’m laidon the back seat of the car. I can hear my phone pinging. It’s constant. Then it starts to ring. I look at the screen. Jonno. I can’t talk to him. He helped them. He supported their cause. Probably egged them on. Security first, every other consideration second.
But there was no need for security. Who was going to say anything? And why? The twins carry no title, it was all pointless. Needless lies and deceit. Obviously Kell didn’t truly trust me.
The thought hits me like a thunderbolt. Did he really not believe the children were his? Had his mother, or those bitches Lauren and Grace, or all of them, managed the poison the well so deep that he just had to have an extra bit of insurance.
My rage rises like a phoenix from the ashes. My determination to keep my children and myself safe blasting into the night sky.
Jonno
Where are you going?
Jonno
Who are you with?
Jonno
What are you doing?
And the texts keep coming. He knows something is wrong.
Me
leave me alone Jonno.
