Chapter Twenty-Eight

Trinity

Stephen had been downing the scotches that Luke and Todd kept ordering all night, trying to keep my pregnancy under wraps. It was clear as day that my husband was totally plastered.

With Clint’s help, I was trying to get him inside and up to bed when he suddenly announced that we’re expecting ~twins~.

~Oh, Stephen, I love you, but you can be such a handful when you’re drunk.~

“What?” Clint stammers.

“What?” Stephen mimics.

“Trinity?” Mia turns to me.

“Yes, okay?” I blurt out. “We found out last week and we were going to wait until our twelve-week scan to tell everyone, but ~apparently~ my husband had other plans.”

Stephen is still standing there, grinning from ear to ear, looking so proud of himself. He pulls me close by the waist and starts kissing my neck again.

“Let's go recreate how we made these two, mommy,” he whispers against my skin.

“Baby, I love you, but you need to sleep this off right now.”

Clint and Mia are both still staring at us, shocked.

“Can you help me get him to bed?” I ask. “Then, I’ll come back down and explain everything.”

“It doesn't need explaining, baby,” Stephen interjects. “I filled you up with two babies.”

“Stephen Luciano Gotti, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll head up those stairs before I make you.”

“Yes doll,” he replies, pouting.

“Come on, drunkard, let's get you to bed,” Clint says, laughing.

With Clint’s help, I manage to get Stephen up to bed. Once we get him in bed, I start taking off his shoes and then sit him up to remove his jacket.

I’m unbuttoning his shirt when he tries pulling me into him again. “Baby, you look so sexy tonight.”

“Baby, you need to rest right now, okay?”

“Mm, I know how you can tire me out,” he slurs.

Clint laughs and Stephen frowns.

“Bro, why are you still in my room? I'm trying to get in my wife's pants here!”

“I know you are bro,” Clint replies. “I hate to break it to you, but I don't think that's happening tonight.”

“Yeah, it will, right baby? You love having daddy inside you.”

I ignore him. “Babe, lay back down so I can get your pants off, please.”

“Ha! See Clint? Screw you, I told you she wants me.”

“Yeah mate, you’re right.” Clint just laughs as I try to wrangle my manchild out of his suit and into bed.

Finally getting him down to his briefs, I pull back the sheets.

“Baby, hop in and lay down for me. Momma is just going to get changed and get some water then I will be in bed, okay?”

“Mhmm,” Stephen drawls.

I look at Clint. “He'll be asleep in two minutes. Let me just get out of this and I'll be down to speak to you both.”

“Okay, no worries hun. Do you want some coffee? Tea?” he asks.

“Tea, thank you.”

Clint leaves as I head to our wardrobe to get changed and comfortable before heading out.

Stephen’s finally passed out so I head downstairs.

“Sorry about that, guys,” I say, letting out a breath as I greet Mia and Clint.

“All good babe,” Mia says, chuckling. “I haven't seen him that wasted in years.”

Clint laughs. “Yeah, he’s going to feel that tomorrow.”

Clint hands me a cup of tea and I take a seat on one of the empty stools at the island.

“So?” Mia finally asks.

I nod. “It’s true. All of it.”

“Twins?”

“Yeah. When I still wasn't feeling good last Monday, Stephen made me go get a check. My doctor ran some tests and confirmed I was pregnant,” I explain.

“A few days later when my blood tests came back, she called us in and said my HCG levels were very high so we went for the scan and they confirmed it's two babies.”

“Holy shit!” Clint cheers. “Congratulations, right?”

“We’re over the moon,” I say. “It's a huge shock, even though we were trying to start a family, I don't think either of us expected twins.”

“Ah, I’m so excited for you, babe!” Mia beams.

“Well, that definitely explains why he had a skin full of scotch tonight,” Clint says.

We all laugh and finish our drinks up before heading to bed.

I get back upstairs and find my love fast asleep. I get sorted and climb into bed next to him, cuddling up to his back.

***

When I wake up the next morning, Stephen is still fast asleep.

I don't expect to see him up anytime soon.

I get him some water and painkillers and leave them on the bedside table. Thankfully, we have been given today off work by the boss after the award show last night. I need a nap already.

I head downstairs and have just finished cleaning up the kitchen when I feel my husband's arms wrap around my waist.

“On a scale of one to screwed, how much trouble am I in?” he asks.

I chuckle. “With the state you were in, I'm surprised you remember, baby.”

“I remember enough to know I'm probably going to be cut off for a while,” he pouts.

“I should be annoyed, baby, but I'm not. It was kind of amusing and you did get in that state because you were just trying to help me.”

“I love you,” he says. “You're amazing, you know that?”

“Yeah, I get that a lot,” I say, flipping my hair.

“Any chance of getting a bit of morning nookie now?”

“Do ~not~ push your luck, mister,” I deadpan.

Stephen chuckles. “A guy can try, right?”

“How are you feeling?” I ask him.

“Let’s just say I’ll be scrubbing our bathroom today. But I’m not sure my stomach’s done yet, so I might hold off for a bit.”

“My poor baby.”

“Yeah,” he says, batting his eyelashes in a mock pout. “Want to make your poor baby feel better?”

I wrap him in a big hug just as Clint strolls into the kitchen.

“Man, you struck out last night. What makes you think you’ll have any luck now?”

Stephen groans. “Don’t remind me. I thought I’d get chewed out this morning.”

“I’m surprised you can even walk!”

We’re all laughing about Stephen’s antics from last night when the doorbell rings.

“I’ll get it,” Stephen says, heading out of the kitchen.

He’s barely out of the room when I hear him raise his voice. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Clint and I exchange a glance before heading to the hallway to see what’s going on.

We’re not prepared for what we find.

“What the hell are you doing here, Chad?” Clint asks.

“And why aren’t you in Europe like you were supposed to be?” Stephen adds. “Get out of here and get on the next plane.”

“Look, I promise I’ll be gone tonight and back there for good,” Chad says, raising his hands. “Can we just talk first? I just need half an hour.”

“What could you possibly have to say?” Stephen demands.

“It’s about the investigation and Detective Suarez.”

“Who?”

“Mike.”

“How is that our problem?” Clint asks.

“If it wasn’t important, I promise, I wouldn’t be here. I don’t expect you to believe me, but I really am sorry.”

“You’ve got ten minutes, Chad,” Stephen says. “Then I never want to see you again.”

“That’s fair. More than I deserve.”

“Shed. Now,” Stephen says, pointing toward the back. “I don’t want you in my house near my wife.”

I watch as Chad nods and heads around the side of the house.

“You okay, babe?” I ask Stephen.

“I’m fine, sweetheart. Stay here until we get back, please. Don’t leave the house and don’t open the door for anyone.”

“Okay.”

“Clint, let’s go,” Stephen says, motioning to his friend. “I love you, babe. I won’t be long, okay?”

“Love you, too.”

Mia and I watch as the boys head to the back. We take our cups of tea and sit out on the patio.

“How are you feeling, Mia?”

Mia sighs and leans her head back, closing her eyes and rubbing her belly. “I’m so tired. I’m ready for this to be over.”

“I bet you are,” I chuckle. “But you look amazing. Pregnancy really suits you.”

“Don’t say that when Clint is around. He keeps saying the same thing. He’s already obsessed with trying again. I’m still not over this trauma.”

Mia and I chat about all things baby-related. Before I know it, an hour has passed and the boys still aren’t back.

We head inside and I clean up before heading upstairs for a rest. I clean up the bathroom from Stephen’s escapades last night and lie down in our bed.

I don’t know how long I’ve been resting when I hear Stephen come in.

I turn to look at him and he climbs into bed next to me. He pulls me into a tight hug and I can feel the tension in his body start to fade.

“What’s wrong, babe?” I ask.

“Just the usual stuff. Chad came back because his sister was in a serious accident and she’s in the hospital,” he explains.

“The cops have been looking for him and they cornered him at the hospital, asking about Mike.”

“He told them Mike’s still in Spain and he’s going back tonight as part of the operation. Mike’s still deep undercover.”

“They said if he doesn’t check in within the next week, they’ll start looking into it more.” Stephen sighs. “Why can’t people just follow instructions in the first place?”

“Baby, I know you’re upset, but it’s his sister,” I say. “Of course he was going to come back.”

“Yeah, I get that. Maybe I’m being selfish, but I don’t care. I only care about keeping you safe. He promised he’ll be on a plane tonight and he seems genuinely sorry, but I still don’t trust him.”

We lie there for a while. I can tell he’s still feeling the effects of last night, so this was the last thing he needed today.

Stephen has fallen asleep again and I hear Clint downstairs talking to someone, so I head down.

“Going to be one of those days, is it, detective?”

“And what does that mean, exactly?” the detective asks.

“There must be rain on the way, all the rats are coming out,” Clint retorts.

The detective laughs. “Cute. Doesn’t answer my question, though.”

“Didn’t realize I had to answer when you just walk into my house uninvited.”

“It’s a simple question you…” he stops short when he sees me. “Ah, Mrs. Gotti, always a pleasure to see you.”

I’ve walked out behind Clint by now, wondering what’s going on.

“I can’t say the feeling is mutual,” I say flatly.

Clint smirks at me.

“If this is just a social visit, we’ll have to reschedule. I have a sick husband upstairs to take care of and not a lot of patience today, so if you’ll excuse me.”

“Blast from the past got him feeling under the weather?” the detective asks sarcastically.

“Or maybe it’s the stink that just showed up on our porch. Who knows?” I say with a shrug.

“And when would be a good time to talk, Mrs. Gotti?”

“When you’ve got a real reason or you’ve reached out to our lawyer, Detective.”

I’ve had enough of his nonsense. So, before he can utter another word, I slam the door right in his face.