Page 77 of Love Thief

EVIE

Ican’t get into my bus to get changed, and I’m still in the same outfit I went round the festival in. The three Purcells are asking me to come with them to put them to bed. How do I say no to them? I love them, and they’re the cutest set of kids I’ve ever seen. Bug is laughing at me as I fake protest, but they plead a bit more, and I give in.

I go with Orla to sort them out as Bug, James, and Bucky wait for the lads to get back. A bar has been set up outside our bus, and I grin when I see who my boys are talking to. John Clayton’s turned up, and I know Kell and Xan will go apeshit if he tries anything. The strumming of guitars drifts over and I look back to see James, Bucky, and John playing some tunes, Bug egging them on.

Once we get the boys washed, sort of, dressed for bed, sort of, and in bed, sort of, I pull Orla in for a hug. “All good today, Orla. Don’t worry about a thing.” She’s still upset about it all, the chaos and the drama, and I hope she takes my words to heart and lets it go.

“They were so nice earlier, but tonight you would’ve got cut to ribbons on their glares. What is wrong with them?”

I don’t usually spill my guts, but I tell her about Grace in Vegas. I tell her about Lauren at the first meeting. “Becky, not sure what her issue is. I think it’s because she wanted to get married to Levi in Vegas, but he said no way. They’re pissed off that it was me who got married, so I’m hated.”

“It’s crazy. They’ve got Levi and Gabe, and they're hardly hard up in the looks departments. To be honest, Levi is so cool, with his locks and tats.” She fans herself.

“Do I need to report you to Bug, or does he need to get a few tats? Don’t forget, my loyalty is Bug first,” I tell her, laughing.

God it feels good to laugh with a woman who’s not trying to catch me out, to use anything I say or do against me. It feels so comfortable to just be myself. Orla knows what I have, what I do. She knows lots of things about the family in general. And she’s not jealous, or trying to take it from me.

Wow, what a difference it makes to not be judged. To have a friend who is actually a friend for friendship’s sake. I think I could love her as much as I do Bug.

Switching gears to move on to happier topics, I ask her, “Do you know what the entertainment is? I’m a bit worried it’s the toxic trio, and with it being Xan’s belated birthday party, he’ll be the object of their entire focus.”

She nods and says, “Well, I’m sure Xan won’t mind. Becky was going on and on about him today, how fantastic he is in bed. I think they had a thing in Devon. Well it wasn’t bed exactly, I think he tied her up somewhere.” She rolls her eyes, “He does like to dance on the dark side, so they say.”

I don’t say a word, but force a smile onto my face. He can do as he pleases, but I hate the three of them. They are messing with me, and I don’t like it. I will not let them take my life, not a cat in hell’s chance.

“Well I’m not letting them upset me anymore. I was so upset in Vegas, I ran. But no more. They better bring it if they think they can take what’s mine.”

“Ahh, there’s my Kitten,” says Bug as he comes into the bus. “We’ll back you if it comes to it, no doubt about that,” he reassures me and pulls me in for a comforting kiss.

“Thank you. If nothing else comes out of this mess, the fact I have you two, and the absolute cutest kids in Britain in my life, would be enough.” I hug Orla, tears spring to my eyes, and I can almost feel the love as a physical thing as I squeeze her tightly.

Pulling back and looking into her trusting face, I tell her, “Look after my Bug,” as we leave and join the party that we can hear has kicked into full gear.

My men are outside the bus, people milling all around them. Well, I say people, I mean women. I spot Kellen first and head towards him. I can’t quite believe I’m relieved that I don’t know any of the women clearly hanging around for Kell to notice them.

I smile inwardly, as he reaches out for me the instant he spots me. I take his hand and he brings it to his lips, ignoring everyone around us. My confidence soars as his big hand swallows mine.

“Well, my love, all okay? God, you smell good.” He drags me closer and I can see his eyes dilating as he takes me in. I don’t think I’m going to survive tonight at this rate, and my suspicions are confirmed when he laughs and pulls me onto the bus.

It goes downhill from there. Xan pulls Tim aside into a quieter corner of the bus, and Tim goes paler and paler as Xan keeps talking about the entertainment for his birthday.

Tim’s eyes go to me with Kellen, then he looks at my sons, currently making a fuss of their dad, and scrubs his hand down his face. In the end, he nods and moves to talk to Mick, Tommy, and Jase who are standing at the sides of the party, watching.

I make sure I’m with family at all times—Bug, Orla, James, Bucky, Xan or Kellen—while others come and go as the party ebbs and flows. Good company and drinks flow freely, then the music cranks up.

A woman I’ve never seen before walks up the steps of the bus dressed as a circus ringmaster. Red coat, black top hat, long blonde hair in waves cascading down her back, black satin bustier and black fishnets, skyscraper heels. I’m impressed she manages to walk anywhere in them. Make up so perfect, contoured, on point, beautiful. But a harshness about her that I can’t put my finger on where it would come from. She’s also holding the longest, black leather whip, caressing it as if it’s her pet.

She announces she wants all the band outside and cracks the whip over our heads in a practised and expert manner.

Levi and Gabe jump up and rush down the steps of the bus. Kellen and Xan stay put at different ends of the bus, but I can tell they’re having a private conversation across the room.

My stomach drops. They’re worried. Or if not worried, they’re convinced whatever happens next will not be fun for me.

Well it’s showtime boys.

Plastering a fake smile on my face, I stand, holding James’s hand. My suspicions are confirmed when Tommy comes to stand directly behind me. I flick my eyes to him and he nods in acknowledgement. Jesus, what is going on?

Abandoning the bus, the band are now all sat in chairs in the middle of the field with everyone encircling them. The ringmaster, I see, has helpers. What joy—three of them, all dressed in similar clothing, but no top hats and no whips, as yet.

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