Chapter One

Summary

^A year has passed since Trinity and Stephen first crossed paths. After a shocking and violent incident in the warehouse, Trinity is left reeling. All they want is to leave the past behind and step into the future they’ve dreamed of. But life keeps throwing curveballs their way. Can their love withstand the trials?^

^ ^

^Age Rating: 18+ ^

Trinity

I’m upstairs in our bedroom, still trembling.

After the incident, Stephen asked Mia to take me upstairs while the guys had a discussion.

As soon as we got back, I started throwing up uncontrollably. I couldn't help it. ~How did my life end up like this?~

I can't believe what I did! But I had to protect Stephen. He’s my everything.

I was at our bedroom window when I saw Dave and Chad sprinting towards the warehouse. Not knowing what was happening and starting to panic, I began pacing.

Unable to calm down, I left our room and decided I needed to go back down there. I needed to explain, we needed to call the police. We had to do something!

As I reached the back door and started heading towards the warehouse, I heard Mia's voice from under the patio.

“What are you doing, babe? We were told to wait here.”

“I can't, Mia. I… I killed him,” I confessed. “We need to do something, call the police, I don't know, just something. We can't just sit here.”

Mia sighed. “Babe, I need you to sit down and trust me when I say Clint and Stephen are handling this right now.”

I sit down and my hands are shaking so badly I feel like I’m going to throw up again.

“Come here.” Mia pulls me into a side hug.

“Babe, if I could I’d give you a smoke right now to calm you down, but I need you to stay with me a little longer until the guys figure out how we’re going to handle this.”

“You don't need to worry,” she continues, “I promise, Stephen won't let anything happen to you, and neither will Clint and I, okay?”

Still not fully convinced, knowing I killed someone, I simply reply, “Okay.”

Mia sat with me outside while we waited for the guys to return.

Two hours later, I’d had enough and got up to march down there. My nerves were shot and I couldn't stand the waiting any longer.

“Please sit down, honey,” Mia pleaded. “Look, I know you’re stressed, let me call the guys and find out how much longer they’ll be, please.”

I sighed then nodded. “Fine, but if they don't answer, I’m going down there, Mia. I need answers.”

“Okay.”

Mia dialed the guys and I heard Clint's voice through the receiver but couldn't make out what he was saying. After a few minutes, Mia hung up and looked at me.

“Trinity, they’re just locking up now and will be back up here in ten minutes max. Okay?”

I’m pacing back and forth, I really can't handle much more of this.

I feel sick and I can't breathe, everywhere I look, I’m starting to see little stars popping up in my vision.

I’m starting to lose it and I hunch over trying to catch my breath when I feel a strong set of hands around my waist.

“Baby,” Stephen’s soothing voice fills my ears. “I need you to listen to me. Stand up straight for me, come on, I've got you, I'll hold you.”

I do as Stephen says and he holds on to my waist as I stand back up.

He pulls me in close to him, one arm around my waist and one arm around the top of my chest, giving me the support I need when my legs fail me.

“That's it, baby, now I need you to take really deep breaths okay?” His eyes meet mine. “Listen to my voice and try to block out everything else okay? Focus on our breathing together.”

I nod as his voice calms me and we breathe together as he holds me, supporting me.

I start to feel better and my breathing returns to normal.

Stephen continues to hold me until he feels my heart stop racing, even then he still keeps soothing me, stroking me softly, and whispering encouraging words in my ear.

“I’ve got you, baby,” he whispers. “It's okay, I’m right here, keep breathing slowly with me, daddy's here, it’s okay.”

He knew I was on the verge of a panic attack and he knew exactly what to do to help me.

“You okay, baby? Can I get you anything?”

I shake my head as I start sobbing against his chest.

He scoops me up and brings me over to the patio lounge where he sits me across his lap, stroking my back as I bury my face in his chest, unable to hold back my tears.

His presence is soothing and I let out all the emotions I’ve been bottling up for the last two hours.

The fear, the anger, the pain. And all the while, Stephen just holds me tighter and tighter, giving me the comfort I need.

I finally manage to calm down, although still clinging tightly to his waist to reassure myself that he’s really here. He reaches down and holds my face between his hands, looking tenderly into my eyes.

“You okay, doll? What do you need? Just say the word and I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you're okay.”

“I will be,” I reply. “I was so scared I was going to lose you, daddy. Just hold me please, please don't let me go.

“Shhh, I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere.”

I finally notice that Mia and Clint are no longer here.

“Where did the others go?”

“They’re inside, baby, they just wanted to give you some space rather than crowding you right now. It is a lot to process.” Stephen takes a deep breath. “Sweetheart, you shouldn't, you did wha–”

“No, sweetheart,” I cut in. “I don’t feel awful because I killed him. I feel awful because I don’t ~care~ that I did. All I could think about was keeping you safe, making sure you were alright.”

“I love you, come here.” He pulls me into his arms again and we just sit there, holding each other.

I’m not sure how much time passes before I hear Clint and Mia returning. Clint touches my shoulder gently.

“You doing okay, Trinity?”

“I’m okay,” I answer, forcing a tired smile. “I think.”

Mia and Clint take a seat and Clint rolls a few joints, passing them around.

“So, what happens now?” I ask.

“What do you mean, sweetheart?” Clint queries.

“You know what I’m talking about, Clint.”

“No, I really don’t know what you’re getting at.” Clint glances at Stephen. “Do you, Stephen?”

Stephen hums, deep in thought. “You mean tonight? It’s getting late, so we should probably plan dinner soon, maybe a quiet night with just us four…”

Sitting upright in Stephen’s lap, I glance between him and Clint.

“Seriously, guys? You both know I’m not talking about that. I mean what happens now with what went down earlier? There's still a body in the warehouse, what are we going to do?”

“Body?” Clint echoes. “What body?”

~What body?!~