Chapter Fifteen

Stephen

A few days after New Year’s, we took the twins to Maggie Daley Park. We were meeting Clint, Mia, and Willie for some playtime before grabbing lunch.

Clint and I sat on a bench, sipping coffee and watching our wives guide our kids through the park’s activities.

“Did you ever see our lives being like this?” Clint asked.

“Not even close,” I replied.

“I did. Well, mine at least. Never thought you’d find someone to put up with your moody ass day in and day out.”

“Jerk,” I laughed.

“She’s done good, Trinity. I’ve finally got my bro back fully.”

“Thanks, man. She really is amazing. Can I tell you something? Just between us.”

“Always, you know that.”

“Trin’s pregnant again.”

“For real? That’s great, bro. I’m happy for you both.”

“Early days still, nearly eight weeks. So we’ll wait a bit to let everyone know.”

“That is great news, mate. I’m chuffed for you both.”

We finished our coffees, watching our wives before swapping with them so they could have a break.

After fifteen minutes, we headed down to let the girls know to go get some caffeine.

“Babe, did you girls want to grab a coffee and we’ll take the kids while you have it?” Clint asked Mia.

“That would be great, honey.”

I walked over to my wife and gave her a kiss.

“You okay, babe?”

“Stomach is playing up a bit today, love. I’ll get a green tea and hope it settles down.”

“Okay, babe, go sit down for a bit. I’ll take these two little monkeys.”

Trinity

“What you having, babe?” Mia asked.

“I’ll have a green tea, thanks, babe.”

Mia and I got our drinks and sat down.

“You okay, girl? You’re not looking yourself today.”

“Honestly?”

“Honestly.”

“I’m pregnant again, babe.”

“Awww, babe, congrats. I’m so happy for you both. When did you find out?”

“Just before Christmas. I surprised Stephen and let him know for Christmas. Nearly eight weeks, so only early days at the moment.”

“He’d be over the moon, wouldn’t he? He loves those two there. I’ve never seen him look so at peace since I’ve known him. You really brought him back to himself from everything Clint’s said and I have seen.”

“He’s an amazing father and husband. I’m the lucky one.”

I looked out at my husband and kids playing and laughing and realized how lucky I was. As I watched them, I saw Stephen pull out his phone and look at the screen, then turn to Clint, indicating he needed to take this.

“Let’s head down, babe. Looks like Stephen needs to take that call.”

We got up and headed down. Stephen saw me coming over and signaled to the person on the phone to hold on a second.

“Want me to take over, babe?”

“Yeah, sorry, sweetheart. I just need to take this call. Important business call or I wouldn’t.”

“It’s okay, you don’t need to explain. Go.”

I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek as he headed back over to the bench and I pushed the twins on the swing.

Stephen

“Sorry, Philippe, I’m just at the park with the family,” I said into the phone.

“No sorry needed, boy. I’m sorry to interrupt then. How are you?”

“I’m good, my man. Life’s good. The wife and I just found out at Christmas baby number three is on the way.”

“That’s my boy. I’m proud of you, kid. You’ve really made a good life for yourself. And that wife of yours, well, you’re definitely punching above your weight.”

“Hahaha, don’t I know it. She’s amazing. So how’s everything in Spain? Keeping your nose clean?”

“Always, son, always.”

I heard a heavy sigh and knew there was something he needed to say. Let’s be honest, he wouldn’t be calling now otherwise. It was Philippe who helped me and became a father to me when my own parents weren’t.

“What is it? I know there’s something, mate.”

“Look, son, I’m sorry to have to call right now. I know life’s good for you and you have your family now and being dragged back into our world is the last thing you need but...”

“Phil, you’ve been more of a father to me than my own. What is it? You know I’ve got you, mate.”

“I know, son, but you also know I never wanted this life for you. More so now than ever that you have a family.”

“It’s okay, mate. My wife knows about my past. We have no secrets.”

“She’s an even better woman than you led me to believe then.”

He was quiet for a few minutes and I wondered what the hell was going on to have him so spooked.

“History is repeating itself, son.”

“What do you mean, mate?”

“About three months ago, mate, I had one of my guys who runs the warehouse for me come to me with concerns. Stock was unaccounted for and he was adamant when he did the first counts it had come in.”

Philippe continued talking and I zoned out for a minute as I looked over to my wife and kids, remembering this exact moment for me. Trinity looked up to me, smiling lovingly, and I smiled back, blowing her a kiss, trying not to alarm her to anything being wrong.

“We’ve been monitoring it and sure enough, as he suspected, the stock has been going missing internally. At count, we are down just over five hundred thousand in missing stock.”

“Fuck, since when, mate?”

“Six weeks, so it could be much more when we take into account the time we didn’t know it was going on. The problem is, son, again, it all coincides with the times Chad was working.”

“Son of a bitch!”

Oops! I said that a bit louder than I realized when I saw the dirty looks I got from parents around me.

“Sergio has been tracking it, just like I told you to do when you had the problem...”

Philippe’s voice drones on, but I’m not really hearing him anymore. I’m too busy seething. That fucking weasel and his thieving ways. I glance up, running my fingers through my hair, and spot my wife and kids—Mia, Clint, and Willie—making their way back to me.

“Dada dada,” Nathaniel calls out.

My little boy toddles up to me, clutching at my leg. I ruffle his hair, and he tries to pull himself up. I bend down and hoist him onto my hip.

“Dada dad,” he repeats.

Philippe’s voice filters through the phone. “Sorry, mate. I’ll wrap it up. Sounds like the family’s back.”

“You’re right, mate. Go on,” I respond.

“Well, to make a long story short,” Philippe continues, “Sergio started grilling the boys last week. We were pretty sure we’d pinned it on Chad again.”

The rest of my family has returned and they’re standing there, waiting for me to finish my call so we can head to lunch. My wife sidles up to me, her arm snaking around my waist. She strokes my back, a silent signal that they’re ready to go. I nod at her and mouth, ~One minute~.

“And here’s the kicker,” Philippe says. “He hasn’t shown up since Sunday, like he was supposed to. And now, no one’s seen or heard from him in three days.”

~Shit!~