Chapter One

Summary

^Just when Stephen and Trinity think they’ve found their happily ever after, life throws a curveball. A decision Trinity made in the heat of the moment has come back to haunt her, and everyone is paying the price. Trinity has saved Stephen time and time again… Now it’s his turn to save her.^

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^Age Rating: 18+ ^

Stephen

I was beyond furious. This asshole knew exactly what he was doing. Sunday morning. Fucking Sunday. He did this on purpose. He knew the courts were closed on Sundays, so Trinity would have to spend the night in jail until she could see a judge.

I felt my daughter’s hand on my cheek and reminded myself to keep it together—for my kids. That’s all Trinity asked of me.

I stood up, slammed the door, and took our babies to the living room to grab my phone. I dialed Clint first.

Clint - (Phone Call) Fuck off, it’s too early on a Sunday to hear your voice.

Stephen - (Phone Call) Detective Peters just arrested Trinity for murder.

Clint - (Phone Call) We’ll be there in fifteen minutes.

Stephen - (Phone call) Thanks, bro.

I hung up and dialed Benji, the second call Trinity asked me to make.

Benji - (Phone call) Your retainer just went up.

Stephen - (Phone call) Done. Name your price.

Benji - (Phone call) Fuck! How bad?

Stephen - (Phone call) Detective Peters just arrested Trinity for murder.

Benji - (Phone call) I’m on my way to her now. I’ll call you when I can.

Stephen - (Phone call) Thank you.

I looked at my kids, who I’d laid on their tummies on the rug while I made the calls. God, I missed their mother already. I wanted to kill someone for it. But when I looked into their big brown eyes, I found a new calmness, a new strength. I had to be there for them, one hundred percent. I had to let Benji do his job and bring Trinity home to me.

I lay down on the rug with them, my eyes filling with tears as my little ones wiggled over to me, competing to crawl up on me.

I don’t know how long I lay there, watching our beautiful babies, when I heard the door open. I assumed it was Clint, Mia, and Willie.

Clint - Bro, you okay?

Mia and Clint rushed in, setting Willie down on the floor with the twins. Mia knelt down and pulled me into a huge hug. I needed this. I needed reassurance from our loved ones that we would be okay, that we would get through this.

Clint - Come on, bro. Let’s get you a coffee, okay?

Mia - I’ll watch the kids. Just bring me back a coffee, while I can still have them.

Clint - Okay, baby.

I started to get up to head to the kitchen.

Stephen - Wait, what? While you can still have them?

Mia - Oh, Clint and I are going to try for baby number two. But that’s a story for another time. Now shoo.

Clint and I headed to the kitchen and switched on the coffee machine.

Clint - So what happened, bro?

Stephen - We just got up like normal today. We were in the living room, watching the twins have tummy time. I must have zoned out. I was thinking about everything in front of me, you know?

Clint nodded in understanding.

Stephen - I didn’t even hear the door when she nudged me and asked me to get it. I didn’t think anything of it, man! Fuck! I’ve gotten too comfortable. I used to check windows and stuff like this, but not this time. I had to be the big brave bastard who just waltzed out and opened the door to six of them with Detective Peters. SIX!!! Even just one of them could snap her in half. Why the fuck did he need six?

Clint - Mate, you can’t honestly be blaming yourself right now, can you? It’s okay to fall in love, man, to start a family. Fuck, we got out of this so we didn’t always have to look over our shoulders, so our families would be safe. I would have done the same. I can’t tell you right now that I would have checked through the window first. I would have just gone to the door.

Stephen - But that’s just it, isn’t it, mate? She’s not safe. If I’d been smart, we could have at least stalled them until tomorrow so she wouldn’t have to sit in a fucking cell tonight waiting for arraignment.

Clint - Bro, we all know that prick did it on purpose to get to you. But you can’t let it get to you because then he wins. You need to be stronger here—for her, and for your babies.

We stood there in silence for a while, waiting for the coffee to brew.

Stephen - Thanks, bro.

Clint - I got you, man. We’ve all got each other.

He patted me on the shoulder as we waited for the coffee.

Clint

I was jolted awake by my phone buzzing next to me. I grabbed it and saw it was Stephen.

Clint - (Phone Call) Fuck off, it’s too early on a Sunday to hear your voice.

Stephen - (Phone Call) Detective Peters just arrested Trinity for murder.

Clint - (Phone Call) We’ll be there in fifteen minutes.

Stephen - (Phone call) Thanks, bro.

I hung up and put my phone down for a minute, then rolled over to my wife.

Clint - Baby, wake up.

Mia - mmmm, boo, I love you, but can’t you just stick it in and do your thing while I continue sleeping?

I smiled to myself. I love my wife, cheeky as she is.

Clint - As much as I’d love to, baby, we have to get to Stephen’s. Trinity was just arrested for murder.

My wife sat up quickly.

Mia - I’ll change Willie’s diaper and get him dressed. You get dressed and pack a quick bag for him, then I’ll get changed.

Clint - Got it, baby.

We rushed around getting ready. I held Willie while Mia got changed. He was grumpy this morning—he hates being woken up.

We got in the car and sped to Stephen’s. We didn’t bother knocking, just went straight in. When we got to the living room, I was kind of shocked. I half expected Stephen to have lost it and the place to be half smashed up. Instead, I saw my brother being the great father and husband he is. Trinity is everything he needed and never realized.

Mia - “We need to bring her back to him.”

Clint - “We’ll do whatever it takes, sweetheart.”

Mia - “Whatever it takes.”

I watch as Mia gently lays our son down with the twins. She then walks over to Stephen, kneels in front of him, and pulls him into a warm, comforting hug.

I glance at them, then at our children, and a thought forms in my mind. ~Whatever it takes, we’re bringing her home.~