Page 21 of Thick as Thieves
He shrugs. “Bucky said he could handle it. He knew what was going on, but he worries about what Mum thinks, so I’m glad she’s here.” James looks relieved.
“Are you alright, James?” asks Marcus, looking into his son's eyes. Searching for signs that he is or isn’t. “We can stop all this shit if we need to. It’s not an issue. You come first. You, Bucky and the lads. I won’t tolerate it.” Marcus has gone into daddy mode.
“I’m fine. I like touring, we all do. It’s just the bullshit that they’re cultivating. We’re fucking good, surely we don’t need it? Has the label asked them to do it?” James looks at us both quizzically, he knows something is not right here.
“No fucking way,” I say. “And if Nev says we have, he’s a liar. He doesn’t know we own it, so let’s see who he says gave the okay. That’ll be interesting.” My anger has started to simmer. What the fuck is going on with my family?
I can see Marcus is getting ready to blow. “Too fucking right. I’ll kill them. I’ll get Tim on it straight away.” He puffs out his chest. “Bastards. Do they know Bucky belongs to us?” he asks James.
“Not sure. He always calls you Dad, but I think Nev just thinks he’s being funny.”
“He’ll find the fuck out how funny I am,” Marcus says as the door opens and in comes the two of them, Bucky looking better already.
“So then, who do I kill first?” she asks, putting her hands on her hips. Her face is a mask of murderous intent. We all look at each other and start to laugh.
After a few daysof intense intervention, everyone is starting to look better. Marcus is glowing, obviously sex is good. Bucky is calmer. James looks less stressed, as he can unburden himself on his mother. And me, well, maybe not everyone. I’m happy they’re here, but the urges to touch all the time are driving me to distraction.
Along with the fucking nanny. I’m with Evie. She is watching every move, and, I note, all over Marcus. We’ve pushed our show time back an hour so Evie will be able to feed the twins and then come to the show. The nanny babysits, with Darryl, who’s looking after security for Evie, for support. Tommy’s taking some time off, so a new guy—Zak—has been added to the security detail for James and Bucky.
We have a meeting with Nev and the team in a few hours in the suite. Evie is feeding the boys and the tractor beam is on full power as I go into the main family room. Marcus is with her in the bedroom. I move towards it and see the nanny look at me, like I shouldn’t be here, and go to say something to stop me. Walking past her into the bedroom, I leave the door open. I want to see her reaction to things.
I get onto the bed at the other side of Evie and kiss the head of the boy nearest to me, which is clearly a really intimate thing to do as the child is latched onto her breast. I see Betty’s eyes pop out of her head, and she stares at the five of us.
She hasn’t recovered her equilibrium as James, followed closely by Bucky, comes in and heads straight for the bedroom, flopping on the bed. One of the boys, Lochi I think it is, comes off her breast and looks at James as he makes a noise and then goes back to his lunch.
“Typical man,” says Evie, “food first.”
Bucky leans over and kisses the boys. I practically hear Betty hiss from the living room. She better get used to this shit or she’s not going to last.
“Is something wrong, Betty?” I call through and we all look at her. She’s so uncomfortable at being called out on whatever shit she’s thinking.
Clearly Evie is used to having everyone around her. Her brothers were all over James from the time he was born, and it’s exactly the same with the twins. She has Marshall plus all the Greystones at home. She’s a mother feeding her boys. This nanny needs to get a grip.
“N- no, sorry,” she stammers out. “Just not used to seeing everyone here.”
“At least we’re all dressed,” says Marcus flatly. “Could be worse.” He starts to laugh and she turns away, beet red.
“Stop it, Kellen. You’re embarrassing her,” Evie pokes kindly.
“Probably imaging him naked now,” says James slyly so only we can hear him, all the while looking over at Betty. “It’s obvious.”
Evie looks at him shrewdly. “I think the same, James. Glad I’m not going nuts.” She sounds relieved.
Marcus is gawping at them both. “What? You don’t think I encourage her, do you?” The panic in his voice is so different from his normal cocky indifference. They both shake their heads, surprised by his panicked tone. “I’ll nip it in the bud,” he says, a determined expression settling on his handsome face.
“Be gentle if possible?” asks Evie.
I smile indulgently at her, mirroring her gentle tone. She’s trying to be nice to people who are after her husband. You can be too kind. It fascinates me, the juxtaposition. I know how ruthless she can be, how the pendulum can swing from ruthless to kind. She’s clearly trying to give Betty the benefit of the doubt. I just wonder how long it will last.
“You can’t be nice to everyone, Kitten. It’s not possible.” I kiss Sorley’s head.
“Do you want to take him? He’s just sucking for comfort, he’s asleep.”
I look at her as she moves him off, and I can hardly keep my eyes off her tits. They’re huge. But I move her shirt over as if I’m covering her up. I catch Marcus watching me, and the arse smirks. Fucker. He fucking knows the effort that would take.
Lifting the sleeping boy, I put him on my shoulder, winding him so he can go down. Marcus takes Lochi to do the same, and just as the little ones move away, the big ones move into their spot.
“You two? Aren’t you a bit big for a cuddle with your mother?” I mock them.
