Chapter Twenty Eight

Stephen

The scan went smoothly, and baby number three is growing just fine. My wife, Trinity, is relieved that we’re only expecting one this time. We’re chatting as we head back to the car.

Trinity says, “I was scared out of my mind on that table.”

I ask, “Really? Why? We’ve done this before, babe.”

She replies, “I was terrified Dr. Cater would say there were two again. I was ready to bolt.”

I tease, “You wouldn’t?”

She insists, “I absolutely would!”

I ask, “So, are you saying this is it? No more after this?”

I pout at my wife, pretending to sulk.

Trinity teases, “Awww, baby, are you saying you’re going to somehow learn to carry the next one? I’ll be twenty-nine with three kids, well four if we include my husband.”

She winks at me.

I flirt, “You’ll still be the hottest momma around even if we make it four.”

Trinity says, “Can we just focus on this one for now?”

I stop her and rub her belly, bending down to give her a soft kiss. I sneak a hand further down, giving her a playful stroke as I whisper, “Did you think I was joking when I told you that night in Thailand this was made for me to breed with?”

I give her a playful slap.

Trinity laughs, “Ugh, you are shocking! Seriously, what am I going to do with you?”

I suggest, “You could take me home for a bit of playtime before we get the twins? Prove I’m your favorite man-child.”

I nibble on her neck, pulling her closer as she runs her nails through my hair.

Trinity purrs, “Mmm, actually daddy, I could go for a bit of playtime, but you have to feed me first.”

I exclaim, “What!! Here on the street?”

Trinity laughs, “You pervert!! Actual food, hahaha.”

I say, “Oh, sure, that I can do. I’m sure I can take a detour on the way home to find takeaway for you.”

Trinity insists, “Proper food, Stephen. Let’s just stop at this cafe here and get a sandwich and drink. Then we can go home for a little bit. The kids will probably just be going down for a nap anyway, so I don’t want to disturb them and Willie.”

We head inside the cafe and look at the menu. I have my arms wrapped around my wife’s shoulders as she stands in front of me.

I ask, “You know what you want, baby?”

Trinity says, “Hmmm, I’m waiting for your child to hurry up and decide what they’re going to let momma eat without making her sick.”

I rub her belly softly and whisper, “Pea pod, play nice for daddy please so he can get some quiet time with momma when we get home.”

My wife chuckles and places her hands over mine. We finally decide what to order and I place the order as Trinity goes and gets us a table. I come back with the number and two bottles of water while we wait for our coffee and tea.

I slide in next to my wife and wrap my arms around her shoulders again, cuddling her.

I say, “This is nice, you know.”

Trinity asks, “What’s that, baby?”

I say, “The two of us being able to just go out together. I love our kids, don’t get me wrong, but I also miss just us, you know.”

Trinity says, “I know, babe, I know what you mean.”

I suddenly remember, “Oh shit, you know what we forgot to do? Book the appointment for a few weeks’ time for the gender scan before we left.”

A voice interrupts, “Gender scan? Expanding the family again, Mr. and Mrs. Gotti?”

I instantly feel the tension the moment I hear that voice, not even having to turn to know exactly who it is.

I say, “I believe we were having a private conversation, do you mind?”

The detective says, “Not at all.”

He takes a seat across from us in our booth. I need to get up now or I’m going to do something that will get me arrested.

I say, “Come on, sweetheart.”

I stand up and grab my wife’s hand and she gets out of the booth with me.

I whisper to my wife, “Can you please go tell them at the counter we’re taking our food to go, babe?”

She looks up at me, concerned.

Trinity pleads, “Babe, please.”

I lean back down again, whispering to her, “I promise I won’t do anything silly, baby, you have my word. I’ll be with you in a moment.”

I watch and wait until my wife is far enough away before I lean on the table and look around to make sure no one is watching or can hear me. Not that I trust this bastard, he’s probably wired up so I choose my words very carefully.

I ask, “Have you got a thing for my wife?”

The detective stammers, “I beg your pardon?”

I repeat, “You heard me, you seem to have a habit of following her around.”

The detective asks, “What makes you think she’s the one I’m following?”

I tease, “So you have a thing for me then?”

The detective exclaims, “What!!! No.”

I ask, “So why are you following us?”

The detective asks, “Who said I was following you?”

I say, “You just did when you implied you weren’t following her.”

I smirk at him as his face drops when he realizes I just caught him out.

I say, “Just as I thought. For the record though, when you get back to the station ask Mike’s Uncle how he’s doing for me, won’t you? He’s still here, right, or has he gone back to New York?”

I give the detective a stare that he knows all too well is implying I know exactly what they did. I can’t help but smirk in his face as I watch the blood drain from his face.

I say, “The game is up, Detective, one needs to be more intelligent to play it.”

The detective asks, “Is that so?”

I say, “Two strikes already, third strike and it’s game over.”

The detective asks, “Is that a threat?”

I say, “Who’s threatening? Aren’t we talking baseball? It’s right on that screen behind me, isn’t it?”

He looks up but I already know the answer. I can see it reflecting in the window, so again I’m already smirking at him when he looks back down.

I say, “Have a good day, detective!”

I leave him sitting there as I head over to my wife who is still waiting at the counter for our lunch. I make a point of wrapping her up in my arms so I know she is safe.

It’s in that moment I decide I’m going to bury this fucker. This ends, and it ends now!